1. Tetrahydrobiopterin-responsive phenylketonuria: the New South Wales experience.
- Author
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Mitchell JJ, Wilcken B, Alexander I, Ellaway C, O'Grady H, Wiley V, Earl J, and Christodoulou J
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Biopterins administration & dosage, Biopterins therapeutic use, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, New South Wales, Phenylketonurias blood, Biopterins analogs & derivatives, Phenylalanine blood, Phenylketonurias drug therapy
- Abstract
Recent studies have shown that a subgroup of phenylketonuric patients respond to high doses of BH4 (20 mg/kg) by a decrease of plasma phenylalanine. A clinically significant response has been defined as a decrease in phenylalanine by more than 30% within 24 h, after a BH4 challenge. We report our experience with 37 patients diagnosed with hyperphenylalaninemia, mild, moderate, or classical Phenylketonuria (PKU) using a seven day combined BH4 and phenylalanine load. Nine of the 37 patients responded with a 30% decrease in their phenylalanine levels in the first 8 h of treatment. A total of 17 patients (46%) had a decrease of at least 30% during the study period. This study confirms that a significant number of patients with mild to moderate PKU will respond to a BH4 load. Furthermore, it confirms that the seven-day phenylalanine test is more sensitive in detecting BH4 responsive patients.
- Published
- 2005
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