Phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria is an inherited metabolic disease. It is genetic disorder autosomal recessive type. It is caused by absent or deficiency Phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme activity that converts Phenylalanine to Tyrosine. It leads to increasing Phenylalanine in the blood. Tyrosine is important for production of some neurotransmitters. So it caused deficiencies of dopamine and serotonin in brain and also brain damage and associated mental retardation and cognitive, behavioral disorders.
The most important clinical symptoms of the disease, mental retardation, microcephaly, behavioral disorders, seizures, limb stiffness, restlessness, irritability, hyperactivity, eczema. If Phenylketonuria is diagnosed before first month of life and used of dietary treatment, the children can have a normal life with normal mental development. Dietary treatment is restricted and still not optimal so new treatment strategies are researched. Oral therapy, Enzyme therapy, Cell directed therapy and gene therapy for the treatment of Phenylketonuria has been focus of multiple research group. According to the severe symptoms and familial base of the disorder, informing the families and adults about the consequences of the disease is suggested.