Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, the most common inherited urea cycle disorder, shows a spectrum of severity
ranging from severe neonatal hyperammonemic coma to no symptoms among adults. We report on the multiorgan procurement from
a donor who died of cerebral edema due to unrecognized late-onset OTC deficiency. The donor's OTC deficiency was diagnosed
retrospectively since the liver graft recipient developed cerebral edema postoperatively due to hyperammonemia. Plasma ammonia
was extremely elevated (3793 μmol/l), but was not accompanied by general liver dysfunction. Post mortem, the diagnosis of
OTC deficiency was established by enzyme and molecular analysis in a biopsy of the transplanted liver. In contrast to the
fatal course of the liver graft recipient, the kidney, lung, and heart transplantations were successful. Ten months after
transplantation these recipients were alive and showed good graft function. This case demonstrates the importance of careful
donor evaluation, particularly if the donor's cause of death is obscure.
Keywords Liver transplantation - Urea cycle disorders - Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency - Cerebral edema - Hyperammonemia - Donor evaluation
Received: 25 January 2000 Revised: 26 July 2000 Accepted: 5 December 2000