Andrea Pilotto1, Carl M Zipser2, Edytha Leks2, Dorothea Haas2, Gwendolyn Gramer2, Peter Freisinger2, Eva Schaeffer2, Inga Liepelt-Scarfone2, Kathrin Brockmann2, Walter Maetzler2, Claudia Schulte2, Christian Deuschle2, Ann Kathrin Hauser2, Georg F Hoffmann2, Klaus Scheffler2, Francjan J van Spronsen2, Alessandro Padovani2, Friedrich Trefz2, Daniela Berg2. 1. From the Neurology Unit (A. Pilotto, A. Padovani), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy; Department of Neurodegeneration (A. Pilotto, I.L.-S., K.B., W.M., C.S., C.D., A.K.H., D.B.), Hertie Institute of Clinical Brain Research (A. Pilotto, C.M.Z., I.L.-S., K.B., W.M., C.S., C.D., A.K.H., D.B.), Department of Neurology and Stroke (C.M.Z.), Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance (E.L., K.S.), and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (I.L.-S., K.B., C.S., C.D., A.K.H., K.S.), University of Tübingen, Germany; Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation Centre (A. Pilotto), FERB ONLUS, S. Isidoro Hospital, Trescore Balneario, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (D.H., G.G., G.F.H., F.T.), Division for Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, University of Heidelberg; Department of Pediatrics (P.F., F.T.), Reutlingen Hospital; Department of Neurology (E.S., W.M., D.B.), University-Hospital-Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel; and Division of Metabolic Diseases (F.J.v.S.), Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. pilottoandreae@gmail.com. 2. From the Neurology Unit (A. Pilotto, A. Padovani), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy; Department of Neurodegeneration (A. Pilotto, I.L.-S., K.B., W.M., C.S., C.D., A.K.H., D.B.), Hertie Institute of Clinical Brain Research (A. Pilotto, C.M.Z., I.L.-S., K.B., W.M., C.S., C.D., A.K.H., D.B.), Department of Neurology and Stroke (C.M.Z.), Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance (E.L., K.S.), and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (I.L.-S., K.B., C.S., C.D., A.K.H., K.S.), University of Tübingen, Germany; Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation Centre (A. Pilotto), FERB ONLUS, S. Isidoro Hospital, Trescore Balneario, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (D.H., G.G., G.F.H., F.T.), Division for Neuropediatrics and Metabolic Medicine, University of Heidelberg; Department of Pediatrics (P.F., F.T.), Reutlingen Hospital; Department of Neurology (E.S., W.M., D.B.), University-Hospital-Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel; and Division of Metabolic Diseases (F.J.v.S.), Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between circulating phenylalanine and brain function as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms in adults with phenylketonuria. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, early-treated patients with phenylketonuria older than 30 years and age- and sex-matched controls were included. Extensive neurologic evaluation, neuropsychological and behavioral testing, sensory and motor evoked potentials, and MRI were performed. CSF concentrations of neurodegenerative markers were evaluated in addition in a subset of 10 patients. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with phenylketonuria (median age 41 years) with different phenylalanine levels (median 873 μmol/L) entered the study. They showed higher prevalence of neurologic symptoms, cognitive and behavioral abnormalities, autonomic dysfunction, alterations in neurophysiologic measures, and atrophy in putamen and right thalamus compared to controls. In CSF, patients with phenylketonuria exhibited higher β-amyloid 1-42 (p = 0.003), total tau (p < 0.001), and phosphorylated tau (p = 0.032) levels compared to controls. Plasma phenylalanine levels highly correlated with the number of failed neuropsychological tests (r = 0.64, p = 0.003), neuropsychiatric symptoms (r = 0.73, p < 001), motor evoked potential latency (r = 0.48, p = 0.030), and parietal lobe atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides strong evidence for a correlation between phenylalanine levels and clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiologic, biochemical, and imaging alterations in adult patients with phenylketonuria.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between circulating phenylalanine and brain function as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms in adults with phenylketonuria. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, early-treated patients with phenylketonuria older than 30 years and age- and sex-matched controls were included. Extensive neurologic evaluation, neuropsychological and behavioral testing, sensory and motor evoked potentials, and MRI were performed. CSF concentrations of neurodegenerative markers were evaluated in addition in a subset of 10 patients. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with phenylketonuria (median age 41 years) with different phenylalanine levels (median 873 μmol/L) entered the study. They showed higher prevalence of neurologic symptoms, cognitive and behavioral abnormalities, autonomic dysfunction, alterations in neurophysiologic measures, and atrophy in putamen and right thalamus compared to controls. In CSF, patients with phenylketonuria exhibited higher β-amyloid 1-42 (p = 0.003), total tau (p < 0.001), and phosphorylated tau (p = 0.032) levels compared to controls. Plasma phenylalanine levels highly correlated with the number of failed neuropsychological tests (r = 0.64, p = 0.003), neuropsychiatric symptoms (r = 0.73, p < 001), motor evoked potential latency (r = 0.48, p = 0.030), and parietal lobe atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides strong evidence for a correlation between phenylalanine levels and clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiologic, biochemical, and imaging alterations in adult patients with phenylketonuria.
Authors: Deborah A Bilder; Georgianne L Arnold; David Dimmock; Mitzie L Grant; Darren Janzen; Nicola Longo; Mina Nguyen-Driver; Elaina Jurecki; Markus Merilainen; Gianni Amato; Susan Waisbren Journal: Am J Med Genet A Date: 2021-11-26 Impact factor: 2.578
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