ORGANIC ACIDURIAS AND AMINO ACIDURIAS IN THE AETIOLOGY OF LONG‐TERM MENTAL HANDICAP

Abstract
To evaluate the contribution of patients with organic aciduria and amino acidopathies to populations with severe long-term mental handicap, urine from 1778 such patients from 4 hospitals was examined for organic acids and amino acids. The patients were classified into 8 groups according to the nature of their handicap. Apart from phenylketonuria originating from before dietary treatment was available, known inherited metabolic diseases do not contribute significantly to the incidence of mental handicap in the population studied.