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Previous Volume 344:1642-1643 May 24, 2001 Number 21 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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The medical mystery in the April 5 issue¹ involved an 82-year-old woman with alkaptonuric ochronosis. Alkaptonuria is a rare inherited deficiency of homogentisic acid oxidase, leading to the accumulation of homogentisic acid in various tissues. Ochronosis refers to the characteristic cutaneous and cartilaginous blue-black deposits. This patient had no particular medical history other than a unilateral hip replacement. The diagnosis of alkaptonuric ochronosis was only established when the patient was 82 years old, at which time she was referred to a dermatologist. The main features of the disorder are cervical arthropathy with intervertebral calcification (Figure 1A), kyphosis, and . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Fisher, A. A., Davis, M. W. (2004). Alkaptonuric Ochronosis with Aortic Valve and Joint Replacements and Femoral Fracture: A Case Report and Literature Review. Clin Med Res 2: 209-215 [Abstract] [Full Text]