Homocystinuria caused by 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency occurs when the body makes too little MTHFR enzyme or none at all, or it makes MTHFR enzyme that does not work properly. Enzymes are proteins that regulate the body’s tissues and organs. Specifically, MTHFR helps convert an important amino acid—homocysteine— back to methionine, another important amino acid.
When this process does not occur as it should, blood levels of homocysteine increase and blood levels of methionine decrease. This causes harmful symptoms to develop.
Symptoms of homocystinuria caused by severe MTHFR deficiency can begin in infancy or early childhood. Symptoms may include:
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: