Homocystinuria causes levels of the amino acid homocysteine (HO-mo-SIS-teen) to buildup in blood and urine. This buildup occurs when the body cannot properly process homocysteine or methionine (meh-THIGH-uh-neen), another amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks that the body uses to make proteins. The cause of the buildup of homocysteine varies depending on the genetic disorder.
High levels of homocysteine and abnormal levels of methionine can cause many different symptoms in the body and lead to serious, lifelong health problems.
CYSTADANE (betaine anhydrous for oral solution) is indicated in children and adults for the treatment of homocystinuria to decrease high homocysteine blood levels. Homocystinuria is a rare genetic disorder in which there is an abnormal accumulation of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood and urine. The following are considered to be homocystinuria disorders: