This disorder is caused by not being able to break down the amino acid, methionine. This disorder can lead to mental retardation, eye problems, and blood clots. When detected early, infants are put on a low methionine diet to avoid these problems. In girls, the genitalia may appear as male. Serious loss of body salt and water, even death, may occur in either sex.
Treatments are available to correct the condition.
This kind of metabolic crisis can sometimes lead to seizures, failure to breathe, cardiac arrest and death. The main focus of treatment is to prevent a metabolic crisis from happening. Treatment is effective and focuses on preventing long fasts.