Phenylketonuria
Updates to Article Attributes
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism resulting from abnormal metabolism of phenylalanine. If untreated, patients can develop central nervous system impairment.
Epidemiology
Phenylketonuria is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder 1.
Clinical presentation
Symptomatic patients demonstrate motor function impairment and mental retardation 1.
Pathology
Phenylkeonuria is due to deficiency of the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydoxylase which converts the amino acid phenylalanine, a large neurtal amino acid to tyrosine. The resultant accumulation phenylalanine in the blood competes for transport across the blood-brain barrier with other amino acids via the large neutral amino acid transporter. As a result the availability of other large neutral amino acids in neurons is decreased to the brain resulting in impaired neurotransmitter and protein synthesis 2.
Treatment and prognosis
Treatment is with a phenylalanine restricted diet 3. Traditionally this has been enforced only during childhood, but recent evidence suggests life long dietary restriction is probably worthwhile [ref needed].
-<p><strong>Phenylketonuria (PKU) </strong>is an inborn error of metabolism resulting from abnormal metabolism of phenylalanine. If untreated, patients can develop central nervous system impairment. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Phenylketonuria is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder <sup>1</sup>. </p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Symptomatic patients demonstrate motor function impairment and mental retardation <sup>1</sup>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Phenylkeonuria is due to deficiency of the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydoxylase which converts the amino acid phenylalanine, a large neurtal amino acid to tyrosine. The resultant accumulation phenylalanine in the blood competes for transport across the <a href="/articles/blood-brain-barrier">blood-brain barrier</a> with other amino acids via the large neutral amino acid transporter. As a result the availability of other large neutral amino acids in neurons is decreased to the brain resulting in impaired neurotransmitter and protein synthesis <sup>2</sup>. </p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Treatment is with a phenylalanine restricted diet <sup>3</sup>. </p>- +<p><strong>Phenylketonuria (PKU) </strong>is an inborn error of metabolism resulting from abnormal metabolism of phenylalanine. If untreated, patients can develop central nervous system impairment. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Phenylketonuria is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder <sup>1</sup>. </p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Symptomatic patients demonstrate motor function impairment and mental retardation <sup>1</sup>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Phenylkeonuria is due to deficiency of the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydoxylase which converts the amino acid phenylalanine, a large neurtal amino acid to tyrosine. The resultant accumulation phenylalanine in the blood competes for transport across the <a href="/articles/blood-brain-barrier">blood-brain barrier</a> with other amino acids via the large neutral amino acid transporter. As a result the availability of other large neutral amino acids in neurons is decreased to the brain resulting in impaired neurotransmitter and protein synthesis <sup>2</sup>. </p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Treatment is with a phenylalanine restricted diet <sup>3</sup>. Traditionally this has been enforced only during childhood, but recent evidence suggests life long dietary restriction is probably worthwhile [ref needed]. </p>
Image 1 MRI (FLAIR) ( create )
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