About cps deficiency

What is cps deficiency?

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I deficiency (CPSID) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by complete or partial lack of the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) enzyme. This is one of five enzymes that play a role in the breakdown and removal of nitrogen from the body, a process known as the urea cycle. The lack of the CPSI enzyme results in excessive accumulation of nitrogen, in the form of ammonia (hyperammonemia), in the blood. Affected children may experience vomiting, refusal to eat, progressive lethargy, and coma. CPSID is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder.

The urea cycle disorders are a group of rare disorders affecting the urea cycle, a series of biochemical processes in which nitrogen is converted into urea and removed from the body through the urine. Nitrogen is a waste product of protein metabolism. Failure to break down nitrogen results in the abnormal accumulation of nitrogen, in the form of ammonia, in the blood.

What are the symptoms for cps deficiency?

CPSID may be associated with complete or partial absence of the CPS enzyme. Complete lack of the CPS enzyme results in the severe form of the disorder, in which symptoms occur shortly after birth (neonatal period). Partial lack of the CPS enzyme results in a milder form of the disorder that can occur at any time during the life of the patient.

The symptoms of CPSID are caused by the accumulation of ammonia in the blood. The severe form of CPSID occurs within 24-72 hours after birth, regardless of exposure to dietary protein. This form of CPSID is initially characterized by refusal to eat, Lethargy, lack of appetite, Vomiting, and Irritability. Shortly thereafter, affected infants may also experience Seizures, respiratory distress, and abnormal movements and postures, The symptoms are mostly attributable to the swelling of the brain (cerebral edema) caused by hyperammonemia.

In neonatal cases, untreated CPSID progresses to coma due to high levels of ammonia in the blood (hyperammonemic coma). In such cases and even with effective treatment, the disorder may potentially result in neurological abnormalities, including developmental delays and intellectual disability. The neurological abnormalities are more severe in infants who are in hyperammonemic coma for a prolonged period (days). If left untreated, the disorder will typically results in death of the patient.

Those with the milder form of CPSID show symptoms later during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. Symptoms are often triggered by a secondary illness such as a viral infection or other stress. Symptoms may include failure to grow and gain weight at the expected rate (failure to thrive), avoidance of protein from the diet, inability to coordinate voluntary movements (ataxia), Lethargy, Vomiting, and/or diminished muscle tone (hypotonia). Patients with the milder form of CPSID may still experience hyperammonemic coma and life-threatening complications.

What are the causes for cps deficiency?

CPSID is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder and is caused by mutations in the CPSI gene. Mutations in the CPSI gene result in production of an abnormal carbamoyl phosphate synthetase enzyme.

Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits two copies of an abnormal gene for the same trait, one from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the defective gene and have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents and be genetically normal for that particular trait is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.

All individuals carry 4-5 abnormal genes. Parents who are close relatives (consanguineous) have a higher chance than unrelated parents to both carry the same abnormal gene, which increases the risk to have children with a recessive genetic disorder.

What are the treatments for cps deficiency?

Treatment is very complex and should be coordinated by a metabolic specialist at a center experienced in the care of urea cycle patients. Therapy is based on reducing plasma ammonia concentration, preventing excess ammonia from being formed, and reducing the amount of nitrogen in the diet while supplying enough for growth.

Reduction of plasma ammonia concentration is accomplished by dialysis and several different methods are available.

The nitrogen scavenger drugs sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate provide an alternative pathway for removing excess nitrogen. Intravenous and oral forms of these medications are available (Ammonul and Ucephan). Phenylbutyrate (Buphenyl) has a less offensive odor than the other medications but is available as oral therapy only.

Dietary restrictions in individuals with CPSID are aimed at limiting the amount of protein intake. Children with CPSID are placed on a low-protein, high calorie diet, supplemented by essential amino acids. Treatment may also include citrulline or arginine, to maintain a normal rate of protein formation (synthesis).

Prompt treatment is necessary when individuals have extremely high ammonia levels (severe hyperammonemic episode). Prompt treatment can sometimes prevent coma and severe neurological symptoms. However, in some cases, especially those with complete enzyme deficiency, prompt treatment will not prevent recurrent episodes of hyperammonemia and the potential development of serious complications. In many centers liver transplantation is offered as a more permanent solution to severe CPSID.

Consensus treatment guidelines are available online at the NIH sponsored urea cycle disorders consortium website.

http://rarediseasesnetwork.epi.usf.edu/ucdc/

Seizures are treated with phenobarbital or carbamazepine. Valproic acid and intravenous steroids should be avoided, as it can increase blood ammonia levels. Prednisone and other similar steroid compounds should also be avoided because they will trigger a protein catabolic state and hyperammonemia. Inhaled steroids are somewhat safer if necessary.

Of note, the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide appears to directly inhibit CPSI.

Affected individuals should receive periodic blood tests to determine the levels of ammonia in the blood. Excessive levels of ammonia should be promptly treated.

Genetic counseling is recommended for affected individuals and their families.

What are the risk factors for cps deficiency?

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 CPS deficiency is a genetic disease that is passed down hereditarily, and hence there is always a risk that if your ancestors had it, you or your children could have it.

  • When a gene is autosomal, it can be found on any chromosome other than the X or Y chromosomes (sex chromosomes).
  • Like chromosomes, genes frequently exist in pairs.
  • Recessive means that for a person to have the disease, both copies of the disease-causing gene (pathogenic variation) must have the disease-causing alteration.
  • The earlier term "mutation" is nevertheless occasionally used to refer to a pathogenic variety.
  • Each parent passes on a gene with a harmful mutation to a child who has an autosomal recessive illness.
  • Each parent carries the gene's pathogenic variation in one copy, making them each carrier.
  • Typically, carriers of autosomal recessive diseases don't exhibit any disease symptoms.
  • All individuals have four to five defective genes. Consanguineous parents are more likely than unrelated parents to share a defective gene, which raises the likelihood that their offspring may develop a recessive genetic condition.
  • It is very important that the right measures are taken to cure the disease since, if not treated, it can be very risky and often fatal.
  • It can also lead to hyperammonemia coma, which takes place due to increased levels of ammonium in the body.


Conditions
Seizures,Respiratory Insufficiency,Hypotonia
Drugs
Ammonul,Ucephan,Biphenyl
Symptoms
Unusual sleepiness,Poorly regulated breathing rate or body temperature,Unwillingness to feed,Vomiting after feeding,Unusual body movements,Seizures,Coma

Is there a cure/medications for cps deficiency?

The goal of therapy for CPS deficiency is to lower plasma ammonia levels, stop the formation of excess ammonia, and reduce dietary nitrogen intake while still providing enough for growth. Dialysis can reduce the plasma ammonia concentration using a number of different techniques.

  • Sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate are nitrogen scavengers that offer an alternative method of eliminating surplus nitrogen.
  • When a person's ammonia levels are exceedingly high, immediate treatment is required (severe hyperammonemia episode).
  • Sometimes, prompt medical attention can avert coma and severe neurological symptoms.
  • However, quick therapy may not always be enough to stop recurrent bouts of hyperammonemia and the potential emergence of significant consequences, particularly in those with total enzyme deficiency.
  • A liver transplant is frequently recommended as a more long-term treatment for severe CPSID.
  • Carbamazepine or phenobarbital are used to treat seizures. Because valproic acid and intravenous steroids might raise blood ammonia levels, they should be avoided.
  • Prednisone and other comparable steroids should also be avoided since they can cause hyperammonemia and a protein catabolic condition.
  • If necessary, inhaled steroids are a little bit safer.
  • To check for ammonia levels in the blood, affected people should have routine blood testing.
  • Ammonia levels that are too high need to be handled right away.
  • It is advised that afflicted individuals and their families seek genetic counseling.


Conditions
Seizures,Respiratory Insufficiency,Hypotonia
Drugs
Ammonul,Ucephan,Biphenyl
Symptoms
Unusual sleepiness,Poorly regulated breathing rate or body temperature,Unwillingness to feed,Vomiting after feeding,Unusual body movements,Seizures,Coma

Video related to cps deficiency