Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

One-step Metabolomics: Carbohydrates, Organic and Amino Acids Quantified in a Single Procedure
09:28

One-step Metabolomics: Carbohydrates, Organic and Amino Acids Quantified in a Single Procedure

Published on: June 25, 2010

Vaccines are not associated with metabolic events in children with urea cycle disorders

Thomas M Morgan1, Cameron Schlegel, Kathryn M Edwards

  • 1Department of Pediatrics/Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, DD-2205 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232-2578, USA. thomas.morgan@vanderbilt.edu

Pediatrics
|April 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Childhood immunizations are safe for children with urea cycle disorders (UCDs). Routine vaccinations did not increase the risk of hyperammonemic episodes (HAEs) in this vulnerable population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Childhood immunizations are crucial for preventing infectious diseases.
  • Medically fragile children, including those with urea cycle disorders (UCDs), may face risks from vaccinations.
  • UCDs can lead to hyperammonemic episodes (HAEs) triggered by stressors like infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety of routine childhood vaccinations in pediatric patients with UCDs.
  • To determine if vaccinations increase the risk of hyperammonemic episodes (HAEs) requiring urgent care or hospitalization.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study using data from the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortium for UCD.
  • Self-controlled case series method analyzing vaccine safety in children with UCDs.
  • Conditional Poisson regression adjusted for age to model the association between vaccinations and HAEs within 7- or 21-day post-vaccination periods.

Main Results:

  • The study included 169 children with UCDs; 74 had both HAEs and vaccinations.
  • No statistically significant increase in HAEs was observed within 7 or 21 days after vaccination compared to non-vaccination periods.
  • No specific vaccine type was linked to a higher incidence of HAEs.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood immunizations are not associated with an increased risk of hyperammonemic episodes in children with UCDs.
  • The findings support the safety of routine vaccinations for medically vulnerable children with UCDs.
  • Vaccination is recommended for children with UCDs to prevent infectious diseases.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
Urea Cycle01:23

Urea Cycle

The urea cycle describes how liver cells convert ammonia to urea. Ammonia is a toxic waste product of protein catabolism. Land animals must convert ammonia into the less toxic urea which can be safely eliminated by the kidneys through urine. Marine animals excrete ammonia directly, and the surrounding water dilutes the ammonia to safe levels.
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Overview of Metabolism01:40

Overview of Metabolism

Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...