Discolouration of Ears In the vast majority of patients, their ears will eventually begin to develop a blue-black colour. This is due to homogentisic acid (HGA) attaching itself to the cartilage present in ears. Like the spots in the eyes, this discolouration does not...
Black Spots in the Eyes AKU patients start to develop black spots in the whites of their eyes as they get older. This is caused by a chemical called homogentisic acid (HGA) accumulating in the eye over time until it begins to become visible. Although this looks...
Osteoarthritis Overtime, the build-up of homogentisic acid (HGA) leads to severe early onset osteoarthritis. HGA attacks the bones and cartilage, turning them black and brittle over time. Joints become less able to cope with activities which put them under strain,...
Black Urine The first symptom most AKU patients will experience is black or dark urine. Large quantities of a chemical called homogentisic acid (HGA) are excreted in the urine. If left to stand and exposed to the air, the HGA in urine will oxidise and start to turn...
Downloadable Resources This page provides resources for AKU patients, carers and their families. The information on this page includes leaflets about AKU and our services, impact reports, and newsletters. They are also available to download in 15 different Lanaguages....
