KEY POINTS:

• You have just heard that your baby may have argininemia. Please understand that the newborn screening is just that---a screening test. Further testing is required to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
• Most babies who have out of range newborn screens are healthy, and will not have argininemia.
• If treated early, children with argininemia can have healthy growth and development.

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Additional Resources

• Argininemia
• Arginase Deficiency

Argininemia (ARG)

What is newborn screening?

Newborn screening is a blood test to check for conditions that might be hidden at birth.To do the screening, a nurse takes a few drops of blood from your baby’s heel soon after birth. This blood sample is required for all newborn babies.

Newborn screening is not the same as diagnostic testing. A diagnostic test can tell with more certainty whether or not a child has a condition. On the other hand, a screening test simply indicates that a child may have a condition. The purpose of a screening test is to find babies that should have diagnostic testing. When a child with an out-of-range newborn screening result has a follow-up test result within the normal range, it issometimes called a “false positive.”

What if my baby needs more testing?

If you are told that your baby needs follow-up testing, it does not necessarily mean that your baby is at risk. An out of range result may occur because:

• The sample was too small
• The sample was collected too early
• The sample was collected too close to a feeding
• The baby was born too early or had a low birth weight

Most babies who have follow up testing for argininemia are healthy, and will not have argininemia. However, out of range screening results CAN indicate a disorder, so it is important to follow your doctor’s advice & get your baby tested quickly so that final results can be confirmed.

What is Argininemia?

Argininemia (ARG) is a condition that causes harmful amounts of arginine and ammonia to build up in the body. It is considered an amino acid condition because people affected with ARG are unable to break down an amino acid, a small molecule that makes up proteins, known as arginine. You may also hear ARG called a urea cycle condition. This name is used to describe conditions that cause ammonia to accumulate in the body.

What does this mean?

Although these conditions cannot be cured, they can be treated. If further testing finds that your baby has ARG, he or she may need to be on a special diet.A specialist may recommend medication or supplements. This will help to prevent health problems. If found and treated early, children with ARG can have healthy growth and development.

What happens next?

Your baby’s doctor may ask for your baby to have more testing.You will want to have these follow up tests done as soon as possible. In some cases, you may be asked to visit a specialist and/or dietician. The specialist and/or dietician will talk to you about the best plan for your baby.

What are the signs and symptoms of argininemia?

Babies with argininemia usually do not show any symptoms when they are newborns. If untreated, argininemia can cause muscle problems and developmental delays starting in early childhood. However, if the condition is discovered and treated, individuals with argininemia can often lead healthy lives.If you become concerned about your baby’s growth, feeding or activity, please talk to your pediatrician.

What if I still have questions?

We understand that this can be an overwhelming and emotional process. Many families have questions and concerns. The Connecticut Newborn Diagnosis and Treatment Network (the Network) is available to answer questions and put you in touch with the best resource. To reach the Network, you can call 860-837-7870, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. We also recommend the website www.babysfirsttest.org as an accurate and informative resource.

This fact sheet was written for information purposes only.
It should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.