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- $Unique_ID{BRK03532}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Blue Diaper Syndrome}
- $Subject{Blue Diaper Syndrome Drummond's Syndrome Hypercalcemia
- Nephrocalcinosis Indicanuria Syndrome}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1986, 1987, 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders,
- Inc.
-
- 164:
- Blue Diaper Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Blue Diaper Syndrome)
- is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
- alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Drummond's Syndrome
- Hypercalcemia, Nephrocalcinosis, and Indicanuria Syndrome
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
-
- Blue Diaper Syndrome is a hereditary metabolic disorder characterized by
- digestive problems, fever, general ill health, bluish urine, and visual
- difficulties. Occasionally, kidney disease may eventually develop.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Blue Diaper Syndrome is first detected in infants whose urine stains their
- diapers blue. They tend to be irritable and grow poorly. Digestive symptoms
- may include constipation, poor appetite and vomiting. Infections and fevers
- are frequent. The child has poor vision due to various eye abnormalities.
-
- Because blood levels of calcium are increased, nephrocalcinosis, or the
- precipitation of calcium in the renal tubules, develops in the kidneys.
- After several years this may lead to kidney failure.
-
- Causes
-
- Blue Diaper Syndrome is hereditary, with an autosomal recessive mode of
- transmission. (Human traits including the classic genetic diseases, are the
- product of the interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from
- the father and one from the mother. In recessive disorders, the condition
- does not appear unless a person inherits the same defective gene from each
- parent. If one receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the
- person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will show no symptoms.
- The risk of transmitting the disease to the children of a couple, both of
- whom are carriers for a recessive disorder, is twenty-five percent. Fifty
- percent of their children will be carriers, but healthy as described above.
- Twenty-five percent of their children will receive both normal genes, one
- from each parent and will be genetically normal.)
-
- The biochemical nature of the defect remains a mystery, but there seems
- to be a defect in the absorption of the amino acid tryptophan (a protein
- building block) in the intestine. Bacteria living in the large intestine
- convert the leftover tryptophan into indican and related derivatives, and it
- is these substances that color the diapers blue.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Calcium intake should be relatively low for patients with Blue Diaper
- Syndrome to prevent kidney damage. Destruction of gut bacteria with
- antibiotics and administration of nicotinic acid may be beneficial.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- May 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
- every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
- Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
- current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Blue Diaper Syndrome, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- The National Kidney Foundation
- 2 Park Ave.
- New York, NY 10016
- (212) 889-2210
- (800) 622-9010
-
- American Kidney Fund
- 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010
- Rockville, MD 20852
- (301) 881-3052
- (800) 638-8299
- (800) 492-8361 (MD)
-
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
- Box NDDIC
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 468-6344
-
- Research Trust for Metabolic Diseases in Children
- Golden Gates Lodge, Weston Rd.
- Crewe CW1 1XN, England
- Telephone: (0270) 250244
-
- For information on genetics and genetic counseling referrals, please
- contact:
-
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
- White Plains, NY 10605
- (914) 428-7100
-
- Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
- 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
- Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- (800) 336-GENE
- (301) 652-5553
-
- References
-
- MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 8th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
- University Press, 1986. P. 841.
-
-