| While citrulline is a necessary component of | | | | - Ammonia intoxication |
| the human body that helps to process ammonia | | | | |
| in the urea cycle, some people have | | | | - Vomiting |
| conditions that make processing the amino | | | | |
| acid a real problem. | | | | - Altered behavior |
| | | | |
| Citrullinemia is a genetic disorder that is | | | | - Seizure |
| inherited from your parents. The disorder is | | | | |
| caused by a lack of an enzyme that is | | | | - Coma |
| necessary in order to process and remove | | | | |
| nitrogen from the body. This enzyme is called | | | | - Mental retardation |
| argininosuccinate synthetase. Without this | | | | |
| enzyme, the nitrogen accumulates in the blood | | | | Citrullinemia is diagnosed typically at |
| in the form of ammonia. The condition of | | | | birth, but it can be discovered later on |
| having too much ammonia in the blood is | | | | during tests that identify the levels of |
| called hyperammonemia. | | | | citrulline present in the body. These tests |
| | | | usually involve chromatography. |
| There are two types of citrullinemia: Type 1 | | | | |
| and Type 2. Citrullinemia Type 1 is diagnosed | | | | The key to successful citrullinemia treatment |
| in infants and children. Common symptoms | | | | is early diagnosis. Prompt treatment can help |
| include: | | | | prevent the accumulation of ammonia in the |
| | | | blood and even death. The most common |
| - Vomiting | | | | treatments used include: |
| | | | |
| - Lethargy | | | | - Low-protein diet |
| | | | |
| - Lack of appetite | | | | - Monitoring blood tests |
| | | | |
| - Coma | | | | - Medications |
| | | | |
| - Enlarged liver | | | | A low-protein diet is probably the most |
| | | | important part of treatment. You will more |
| - Poor growth | | | | than likely need to eliminate foods like |
| | | | fish, eggs, poultry, meat, milk, cheese, |
| - Breathing problems | | | | legumes, nuts, and beans. However, protein is |
| | | | still a necessary part of your diet. You |
| Citrullinemia Type 2 is diagnosed in adults | | | | cannot eliminate it completely. This is why |
| and is typically caused by the onset of a | | | | having an experienced metabolic doctor |
| liver disorder during infancy called neonatal | | | | treating you is so important. A dietician is |
| intrahepatic cholestasis. Common symptoms | | | | equally important in ensuing that you or your |
| present in adults include: | | | | child obtains the nutrients he or she needs |
| | | | without exacerbating the disease. |