2010, Volume 3, Issue 4, pp 437 – 443

A late and difficult diagnosis of ochronosis

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Authors and Affiliations

Correspondence to:Laura Groseanu, Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Clinic, ‘St. Mary’ Clinical Hospital 37 Ion Mihalache Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

Alkaptonuria is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of metabolism caused by deficiency of homogentisic acid oxidase and resulting in accumulation of homogentisic acid in collagenous structures. This causes the classic clinical triad: (1) homogentisic aciduria (urine blackens on standing when oxidized or alkalinized); (2) eumelanin–like pigmentation of skin, sclera, cartilages, etc and (3) degenerative ochronic arthropathies usually in the fourth decade of life. Other important but more rare consequences of alkaptonuric ochronosis are cardiovascular and urinary tract involvement . We present a case of ochronosis with multiple visceral involvement : skin (fingers, ear sclera), severe spondylarthropaty with extensive calcifications of intervertebral discs and reduced mobility, osteoarthritis of both knees , right hip ostonecrosis , cardiovascular involvement ( severe stenosis and insufficiency of aortic valve that ) and urinary tract involvement (nephrolitiasis)

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About this article

PMC ID: 3019075
PubMed ID: 21254745
DOI: 

Article Publishing Date (print): 15-11-2010
Available Online: 25-11-2010

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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