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Living with AICA-ribosiduria

A rare inherited metabolic condition with severe developmental delay, vision loss, slowed growth, scoliosis, and often early seizures.

Understanding AICA-ribosiduria

AICA-ribosiduria is a rare and severe inborn metabolic disease that affects development, vision, growth, and the spine.

It involves severe-to-profound delays in brain development, severe vision problems, slowed growth before and after birth, and severe scoliosis (curving of the spine). Seizures often start early in life. It is present during pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Severe intellectual disability
  • Blindness from birth
  • Seizures
  • Scoliosis
  • Slowed growth
  • Short and broad skull (brachycephaly)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, eye disease specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in ATIC are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Is genetic testing for ATIC available for our family?
How can seizures and vision needs be supported?
How should scoliosis be monitored?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy, at Birth, and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesATIC

Changes in the ATIC gene cause this condition. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive).

GeneticNeurologicalInherited Metabolic

Also known as: 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide ribosiduria; aica (5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide) ribosiduria; aica-ribosiduria due to atic deficiency; aicar transformylase/imp cyclohydrolase deficiency; atic (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/imp cyclohydrolase) deficiency; atic deficiency

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · AICA-ribosiduriaGARD ID 13781 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with AICA-ribosiduria.

Explore the AICA-ribosiduria blog

Explore research for AICA-ribosiduria

Explore actively recruiting AICA-ribosiduria studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for AICA-ribosiduria with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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