Unusual cause of general malaise: a young woman with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

A young woman presented with general malaise in relation to the metabolic condition ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. Her ammonia level had risen to 229 µmol/L (normal range 0-59 µmol/L). She was treated using her emergency pack of intravenous medicines and made a complete response. We briefly discuss the need to make an urgent diagnosis, the 'mechanism' for checking serum ammonia levels and therapies. 2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.