Question 1

if pku patients continue to consume protein does the brain damage continue?

Accepted Answer

Growing nerves can B: The most sensitive period for nerve/brain injury from excess phenylalanine(phe) is during brain growth & elaboration of nerve connections.Unaffected mothers clean the blood & prevent the fetus from prenatal injury, but phe containing feeds after birth can start the  damage.The brain doesn't complete its connections until the late 20's. Failure to control phe after childhood produces subtile pbs.

Question 2

what foods should you avoid if you are diagnosed with pku?

Accepted Answer

Restriction of ...: Phenylalanine.  Proper treatment requires close monitoring of blood levels of phenylalanine and expert nutritional input. Metabolic disease clinic  provides the details.

Question 3

what are some good foods for someone with a restricted diet due to pku?

Accepted Answer

Vegetables are OK: Phenylketonuria is treated with a low phenylalanine diet, which means most proteins are verbotten. But people with pku need expert guidance from a metabolic dietician and biochemical geneticist to do it right. Too much protein restriction can be just as bad. You need to have your phenylalanine blood levels checked regularly. If you are a woman of childbearing age, you have to be even more careful.

Question 4

does hemolysis cause a false high bilirubin ?
what can cause a false low pku result

Accepted Answer

Yes: Hemolysis causes high bilirubin but it is not false. It is the breakdown of the red blood cells.  A false negative can come about if a baby is tested before eating enough protein. This means the baby has phenylketonuria, but simply has not consumed enough protein for the level of phenylalanine to be high.

Question 5

how does pku impact the family and individual?

Accepted Answer

Many ways: PKU is an inherited recessive disorder where an individual does not make the enzyme needed to metabolize phenylalanine, an amino acid in protein.  Elevated levels in childhood cause developmental delays, but can be prevented with a special diet that should be continued lifetime to maintain mental abilities.  During pregnancy, elevated levels of pku can affect fetus.  See http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/phenylketonuria/basics/definition/con-20026275

Question 6

what is a pku done on the babay and what happens if it comes back abnormal?

Accepted Answer

Newborn screening: Pku is a label often applied to the newborn screening program that has gone on for the last 50 years or so in some form throughout the states.Any + for any of the tests(~34 in texas)requires that a specific confirmatory test be done to see if the screening was a false + or a real problem. I usually hear about a + screen a week after the test & bring in the kid for testing & discussion.

Question 7

what is the life expectancy of a baby with pku?

Accepted Answer

Quite awhile: If they follow the diet, children with pku can absolutely become healthy, productive adults. With discipline, this can be managed!

Question 8

what is the treatment for pku?

Accepted Answer

Diet: A diet low in phenylalanine.  You should consult a nutitionist well versed with the this diet.  The treatment is very essential in childhood and during pregnancy.

Question 9

are you automatically tested at birth for pku?

Accepted Answer

PKU testing: In the United States and Canada all babies are tested for PKU right after birth.

Question 10

what are some prenatal tests for phenylketonuria (pku)?

Accepted Answer

New born testing: All new borns are tested for pku.  There is no danger to the fetus, as long as mother does not have pku.  Pre-natal testing is not indicated as treatment of the newborn prevents illeffects of pku.

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Doctor answers about:

Low protein food list for pku

A member asked:

If pku patients continue to consume protein does the brain damage continue?

A member asked:

What foods should you avoid if you are diagnosed with pku?

A member asked:

What are some good foods for someone with a restricted diet due to pku?

A member asked:

Does hemolysis cause a false high bilirubin ? what can cause a false low pku result

A member asked:

How does pku impact the family and individual?

A member asked:

What is a pku done on the babay and what happens if it comes back abnormal?

A member asked:

What is the life expectancy of a baby with pku?

A member asked:

What is the treatment for pku?

A member asked:

Are you automatically tested at birth for pku?

A member asked:

What are some prenatal tests for phenylketonuria (pku)?

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