Children with Inborn Errors of Phenylalanine Metabolism: Prognosis and Phenylalanine Tolerance |
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Authors: | J ALM G BODEGÅRD A LARSSON G NYBERG R ZETTERSTRÖM |
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Institution: | From Karolinska Institute, Department of Paediatrics, St. Göran's Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT. Twenty-three children, who were detected by neonatal PKU screening, were followed for 8-18 years in one paediatric centre. Dietary treatment was started if the blood phenylalanine level exceeded 0.72 mmolA. All 23 infants were initially given a low phenylalanine diet. The growth and development rates of the children did not differ significantly from those in a reference population, although one child had mild mental retardation and another had a short attention span. Fourteen children were still on a strict phenylalanine-restricted diet on their last follow-up (at 8-18 years of age). In nine children who were initially put on a low phenylalanine diet, it was possible to normalize the diet between 1/2 and 10 years of age, while maintaining the blood phenylalanine levels between 0.25 and 0.72 mmol/1. It seems likely that those of our patients who markedly increased their phenylalanine tolerance during childhood had a regulatory mutation of the phenylalanine hydroxylase system. A continuous reevaluation of each child treated with a low phenylalanine diet reduces the use of unnecessarily restricted diets. |
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Keywords: | Phenylketonuria hyperphenylalaninaemia dietary treatment dietary phenylalanine tolerance |
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