Phenylketonuria (PKU)

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Untreated PKU can lead to:

  • Irreversible brain damage and marked mental retardation within the first few months of life
  • Behavioral problems and seizures in older children
References
  1. Phenylketonuria. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=phenylketonuria. Accessed Oct. 6, 2011.
  2. Blau N, et al. Phenylketonuria. The Lancet. 2010;376:1417.
  3. Bodamer OA. Overview of phenylketonuria. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 6, 2011.
  4. PKU (Phenylketonuria). March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/baby/birthdefects_pku.html. Accessed Oct. 6, 2011.
  5. Ten Hoedt AE, et al. Parenting a child with phenylketonuria or galactosemia: Implications for health-related quality of life. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Diseases. 2011;34:391.
  6. Van Spronsen FJ, et al. Large neutral amino acids in the treatment of PKU: From theory to practice. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Diseases. 2010;33:671.
DS00514 Nov. 17, 2011

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