MSUD gets its name from the fact that, at times when blood amino acid levels are high, the urine takes on the syrup’s distinctive odor.
Maple syrup urine disease occurs in about 1 per 185,000 live births and affects both males and females. MSUD affects people of all ethnic backgrounds, but higher rates of the disorder occur in populations in which there is a lot of intermarriages, such as the Mennonite community in Pennsylvania.
Symptoms
There are several types of maple syrup urine disease. The most common (classic) form typically will produce symptoms in newborn infants during the first few days of life. These symptoms may include:
Poor feeding Vomiting Poor weight gain Increasing lethargy (difficult to wake up) Characteristic burned sugar smell to urine Changes in muscle tone, muscle spasms, and seizures
If left untreated, these infants will die with the first months of life.
Individuals with intermittent MSUD, the second most common form of the disorder, develop normally but when ill, show the signs of classic MSUD.
Intermediate MSUD is a more rare form. Individuals with this type have 3% to 30% of the normal level of BCKD enzyme, so symptoms may begin at any age.
In thiamine-responsive MSUD, individuals show some improvement when given thiamine supplements.
A very rare form of the disorder is E3-deficient MSUD, in which individuals have additional deficient metabolic enzymes.
Diagnosis
If maple syrup urine disease is suspected based on the physical symptoms, especially the characteristic sweet urine odor, a blood test for amino acids can be done. If alloisoleucine is detected, the diagnosis is confirmed. Routine screening of newborns for MSUD is done in several states within the U.S.
Treatment
The main treatment for maple syrup urine disease is the restriction of dietary forms of the three amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These dietary restrictions must be lifelong. There are several commercial formulas and foods for individuals with MSUD.
One concern for the treatment of MSUD is that when an affected individual is sick, injured, or has surgery, the disorder is exacerbated. Most individuals will require hospitalization during these times for medical management to prevent serious complications.
Fortunately, with adherence to the dietary restrictions and regular medical checkups individuals with maple syrup urine disease can live long and relatively healthy lives.
