Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/maple-syrup-urine-disease/

Maple syrup urine disease

Description

Maple syrup urine disease is an inherited disorder in which the body is unable to process certain protein building blocks (amino acids) properly. The condition gets its name from the distinctive sweet odor of affected infants' urine. It is also characterized by poor feeding, vomiting, lack of energy (lethargy), abnormal movements, and delayed development. If untreated, maple syrup urine disease can lead to seizures, coma, and death.

Maple syrup urine disease is often classified by its pattern of signs and symptoms. The most common and severe form of the disease is the classic type, which becomes apparent soon after birth. Variant forms of the disorder become apparent later in infancy or childhood and are typically milder, but they still lead to delayed development and other health problems if not treated.

Frequency

Maple syrup urine disease affects an estimated 1 in 185,000 infants worldwide. The disorder occurs much more frequently in the Old Order Mennonite population, with an estimated incidence of about 1 in 380 newborns.

Causes

Mutations in the BCKDHA, BCKDHB, and DBT genes can cause maple syrup urine disease. These three genes provide instructions for making proteins that work together as part of a complex. The protein complex is essential for breaking down the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which are present in many kinds of food, particularly protein-rich foods such as milk, meat, and eggs.

Mutations in any of these three genes reduce or eliminate the function of the protein complex, preventing the normal breakdown of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. As a result, these amino acids and their byproducts build up in the body. Because high levels of these substances are toxic to the brain and other organs, their accumulation leads to the serious health problems associated with maple syrup urine disease.

Researchers are studying other genes related to the same protein complex that may also be associated with maple syrup urine disease.

Learn more about the genes associated with Maple syrup urine disease

Additional Information from NCBI Gene:

Inheritance

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Other Names for This Condition

  • BCKD deficiency
  • Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase deficiency
  • Branched-chain ketoaciduria
  • Ketoacidemia
  • MSUD

Additional Information & Resources

Genetic Testing Information

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

Clinical Trials

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Scientific Articles on PubMed

References

  • Burrage LC, Nagamani SC, Campeau PM, Lee BH. Branched-chain amino acid metabolism: from rare Mendelian diseases to more common disorders. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Sep 15;23(R1):R1-8. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu123. Epub 2014 Mar 20. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Carleton SM, Peck DS, Grasela J, Dietiker KL, Phillips CL. DNA carrier testing and newborn screening for maple syrup urine disease in Old Order Mennonite communities. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers. 2010 Apr;14(2):205-8. doi: 10.1089/gtmb.2009.0107. Citation on PubMed
  • Harris-Haman P, Brown L, Massey S, Ramamoorthy S. Implications of Maple Syrup Urine Disease in Newborns. Nurs Womens Health. 2017 Jun-Jul;21(3):196-206. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2017.04.009. Citation on PubMed
  • Oyarzabal A, Martinez-Pardo M, Merinero B, Navarrete R, Desviat LR, Ugarte M, Rodriguez-Pombo P. A novel regulatory defect in the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex due to a mutation in the PPM1K gene causes a mild variant phenotype of maple syrup urine disease. Hum Mutat. 2013 Feb;34(2):355-62. doi: 10.1002/humu.22242. Epub 2012 Dec 12. Citation on PubMed
  • Simon E, Flaschker N, Schadewaldt P, Langenbeck U, Wendel U. Variant maple syrup urine disease (MSUD)--the entire spectrum. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2006 Dec;29(6):716-24. doi: 10.1007/s10545-006-0276-1. Epub 2006 Oct 25. Citation on PubMed
  • Strauss KA, Puffenberger EG, Carson VJ. Maple Syrup Urine Disease. 2006 Jan 30 [updated 2020 Apr 23]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Bean LJH, Gripp KW, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1319/ Citation on PubMed

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.