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PKU treatment for teenagers

teenager studying while eating a fruit. to convey idea that diet has an incidence on the brain

Looking after yourself: PKU treatment adherence

There are good reasons to stick to your special PKU treatment plan. Low blood Phenylalanine (Phe) levels will help you to plan and do the things you want to do.

Find out more about why your brain still needs protection from high blood levels of Phe

teenager lifestyle. To convey idea that treatment can be less intrusive than what they might think

Shortcuts to success: Phenylalanine (Phe) level management

As you take charge of your life, management of your disorder is increasingly your responsibility. A more flexible treatment program may enable you to relax a little about achieving low blood Phenylalanine (Phe) goals – as your social life steps up a notch.

Preparing to see your PKU specialist for teens

Download a list of useful questions to ask at your next visit.

Learn more about PKU and the importance of keeping an eye on your blood Phe levels.

Coping with PKU whilst being independent.

PAH (Phenylalanine Hydroxylase)

An enzyme which works together with Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) to convert Phenylalanine (Phe) to Tyrosine (Tyr) in the liver. A deficiency in PAH results in high Phenylalanine levels in the blood, which is the biochemical hallmark of Phenylketonuria (PKU).

Phenotype

An observable characteristic or trait of an organism. Phenotypes result from the expression of an organism’s genes as well as the influence of environmental factors.

phenylalanine (Phe) tolerance

The quantity of Phe a patient may consume without a significant increase in her or his target blood Phe levels. Usually expressed as daily intake.

Phenylalanine (Phe)

A building block of protein, and one of the 10 essential amino acids. An inability to metabolize excess phenylalanine is the characteristic feature of Phenylketonuria (PKU). When the blood concentration of Phenylalanine exceeds what is considered a healthy level, excess amounts may build up in the brain, causing mental retardation.

Phenylalanine Hydroxylase

See PAH.

Phenylketonuria

See PKU.

PKU (Phenylketonuria)

An inherited metabolic defect in protein metabolism. In PKU, the Phenylalanine Hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme is unable to convert Phenylalanine to Tyrosine, resulting in a build-up of Phenylalanine (Phe) in the blood that eventually passes into the brain, causing mental retardation and other neurological problems.

Protein

A type of molecule produced by the body from Amino acids.