PENTOSURIA Meaning and
Definition
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Pentosuria is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of pentose sugars, specifically xylose and/or xylitol, in the urine. It is typically an asymptomatic condition that does not cause any significant health issues.
The term "pentosuria" is derived from "pentose," which refers to a type of sugar that contains five carbon atoms. Normal urine does not contain pentose sugars, but individuals with pentosuria excrete these sugars in their urine due to a deficiency in an enzyme called xylitol oxidase. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down xylose and xylitol into metabolites that can be utilized by the body.
Pentosuria is usually an inherited condition, resulting from a mutation in the gene that codes for xylitol oxidase. The mode of inheritance can be either autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant, depending on the specific genetic alteration involved.
While pentosuria itself is generally harmless and does not require treatment, its diagnosis is important to rule out other potential underlying conditions. It can be detected through a simple urine test, which will indicate the presence of pentose sugars. Genetic testing may also be conducted to confirm the diagnosis and identify the specific gene mutation responsible.
Overall, pentosuria is a rare and benign metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of pentose sugars in the urine. It does not typically cause any health problems or require treatment, but its diagnosis is important for proper management and to exclude other potential underlying conditions.
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The presence of pentose in the urine.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PENTOSURIA
- oentosuria
- lentosuria
- -entosuria
- 0entosuria
- pwntosuria
- psntosuria
- pdntosuria
- prntosuria
- p4ntosuria
- p3ntosuria
- pebtosuria
- pemtosuria
- pejtosuria
- pehtosuria
- penrosuria
- penfosuria
- pengosuria
- penyosuria
- pen6osuria
- pen5osuria
Etymology of PENTOSURIA
The word "pentosuria" is derived from two components: "pentos" and "uria".
1. "Pentos" comes from the Greek word "pentós" (πέντος), meaning "five". It is used to refer to a group of sugars called pentoses, which have five carbon atoms in their structure.
2. "Uria" is derived from the Greek word "ouron" (οὖρον), meaning "urine". It is commonly used as a suffix to indicate a condition or presence of a substance in the urine.
Therefore, the term "pentosuria" combines these two components to describe a condition where pentose sugars are found in the urine.
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