Acetonuria (Acetonuria)

Article with title: Acetonuria

Acetonuria - see Ketonuria.

Ketonuria is a condition in which increased amounts of ketone bodies are present in the urine. Ketone bodies (acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetone) are formed in the liver as a result of the breakdown of fats when there is a lack of glucose and an excess of free fatty acids.

The main causes of ketonuria:

1. Type 1 diabetes mellitus - with a lack of insulin, the utilization of glucose by cells is impaired and ketoacidosis develops.

2. Prolonged fasting and low-calorie diets lead to glucose deficiency and a transition to lipolysis.

3. Severe stress and infections increase lipolysis and ketogenesis.

4. Pregnancy - increased energy demand leads to lipolysis.

5. Alcoholism - glucose utilization is impaired and lipolysis increases.

Diagnosis of ketonuria is carried out using test strips for ketones in urine or laboratory methods. Treatment depends on the cause and includes nutritional correction and insulin therapy for diabetes.

Acetonemia, acetonuria, acetonemic syndrome, acidosis, ketosis or ketonuria is a special condition characterized by sharp fluctuations in ketone bodies in the blood. The generally accepted cause of this syndrome is a metabolic disorder; ketonemia mainly affects children of primary and school age. Acetone is an organic substance containing three hydrocarbon rings, plus it is found in the blood in increased quantities. The main precursor of ketones is lactic acid, which is formed during the breakdown of fats (lipids). Excess of this substance provokes ketone bodies, which are excreted in the urine. With an increased level of acetone, the child’s concentration is impaired, he becomes aggressive because he wants to eat. Children aged 6 months to 8 years are most susceptible to this condition, but thanks to new research, scientists have discovered that acetone most often appears in the urine of newborn babies. They were discovered 60-70 years ago; in the 30s of the last century, scientists discovered this name for the disease - acetonemic vomiting. In 59% of cases, acetone appears in children with allergic manifestations, less often in people with endocrine diseases, gastrointestinal pathology and allergic asthma. There is a certain pattern in which this disease is predominantly diagnosed in boys.

Symptoms of acetonic vomiting can indicate either an underlying disease or be an independent sign of acetonemia.