Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40102865›Full record

ArticleOrphanet journal of rare diseases2025

Perspectives on long-term medical management of urea cycle disorders: insights from a survey of UK healthcare professionals.

Karolina M Stepien, Melanie McSweeney, Antonio Ochoa-Ferraro, Roshni Vara, Paul Riley, Megan Smith

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Orphanet journal of rare diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Karolina M StepienAdult Inherited Metabolic Disease Department, Salford Care Organisation, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, M6 8HD, UK.
Melanie McSweeneyDepartment of Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disease, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.
Antonio Ochoa-FerraroAdult Inherited Metabolic Disease Service, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK.
Roshni VaraDepartment of Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disease, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
Paul RileyNexcea, Glasshouse, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, SK10 4ZE, UK. paul.riley@nexcea.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6079-9104
Megan SmithNexcea, Glasshouse, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, SK10 4ZE, UK.

Funding

Immedica Pharma AB Immedica Pharma AB
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUrea cycle disorders (UCDs) are rare inborn errors of metabolism which impact the body's ability to detoxify ammonia produced during protein metabolism. In the UK, there is a nationally adopted guideline for the emergency management of hyperammonaemia in UCD patients, however there is no guideline for long‑term management, and treatment decisions are left to the discretion of individual healthcare professionals (HCPs).

resultsTwenty-three HCPs, comprising 13 (57%) metabolic consultants, two (9%) specialist nurses, four (17%) pharmacists, and four (17%) dietitians, participated in interviews to document their attitudes and beliefs regarding the long‑term management of UCD patients, including their current practices, treatment goals, and clinical ambitions. The highest priority for 14/23 (61%) of HCPs was to minimise the risk of hyperammonaemia, however the ammonia level that HCPs advised they aimed for varied significantly, with some targeting above the upper limit of normal. Glycerol phenylbutyrate was the highest ranked ammonia scavenger treatment amongst HCPs for safety, tolerability, duration of scavenging action and reducing patient burden, and HCPs suggested that it would be the first-line treatment in an updated guideline. All prescribing HCPs agreed they would prefer their patients receive a licenced product rather than an unlicensed one for reasons including more reliable supply, greater insurance/legitimacy, and the reassurance of regulatory scrutiny and approval. However, analysis of NHS England's dispensing data between July 2023 and June 2024 indicated annual spend on nitrogen scavengers of £6.7 million with unlicensed specials accounting for £3 million (45%) of the total. Differences between HCPs in the awareness of clinically relevant characteristics of ammonia scavengers, including their sodium and propylene glycol content, were observed.

conclusionsTo standardise the treatment of UCDs within and between metabolic centres in the UK, there is merit in developing a UK-specific treatment guideline.

Indexed as

Health PersonnelUrea Cycle Disorders, InbornGlycerolHumansHyperammonemiaPhenylbutyratesSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited KingdomGlycerolglycerol phenylbutyratePhenylbutyratesEvidence-based practiceHyperammonaemiaNitrogen scavengersUCD surveyUCD treatmentUrea cycle disorders

Identifiers

PMID40102865
PMCPMC11921535

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.