Lesch-Nyhan syndrome presenting as acute renal failure secondary to obstructive uropathy

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by mental retardation, self-mutilation, choreoathetosis, and hyperuricemia. The disease is caused by a mutation in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene and is transmitted as a sex-linked recessive disorder. Since hyperuricemia is the primary metabolic problem caused by a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase mutation, urologic evaluation and treatment is often necessary for children with this disease. We report a 3-year-old boy who presented with anuric renal failure secondary to bilateral obstructing uric acid calculi. The evaluation of T lymphocytes revealed a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase mutation consistent with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. The diagnosis and urologic management of this disorder is discussed.