UCD 101

Urea cycle disorder (UCD) is a genetic disease that affects the body's ability to remove ammonia, leading to toxic buildup. This video explains its impact, common symptoms, and management options to help control ammonia levels.

Being diagnosed with a urea cycle disorder can feel overwhelming.

Understanding more about it can help.

A urea cycle disorder, commonly called a UCD, is a genetic disorder a child is born with.

The child inherits a defective gene or genes from his or her parents, or has a spontaneous genetic mutation.

People can be diagnosed with a UCD at any point in their life, no matter the age.

When food made up of carbs, fats, and protein enters the body, it is broken down.

In the digestive tract, protein is broken down and leftover ammonia or urea is eliminated from the body through a healthy urea cycle in the liver.

For a person living with a UCD, the urea cycle isn't working correctly and ammonia can't be removed properly.

There are different types of Ucds.

The most common one is ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, or OTC.

The name of the UCD is based on which enzyme or transporter isn't working properly in the urea cycle.

A healthy urea cycle turns toxic ammonia into urea so the body can get rid of it naturally.

For patients living with a UCD, the ammonia stays in the body and builds up to toxic levels in the blood.

Common signs and symptoms of high ammonia levels to watch out for include vomiting, headaches, aggression, and feeling very tired.

When this happens, it could signal a hyper anemic crisis which is very serious and requires immediate medical attention because it could cause a coma, brain damage, or even death.

There are options to help control high ammonia levels due to a UCD.

They include a low protein diet, amino acid supplements, and other options your doctor can discuss with you.

A UCD affect everyone differently, so make sure to always talk to your doctor to learn more about your UCD and possible ways to manage your ammonia levels.