Termination of Dietary Treatment of Phenylketonuria

Abstract

PREVIOUS reports have indicated that a phenylalanine-deficient diet initiated in the early months of life may be effective in preventing the severe mental retardation commonly seen in patients with phenylketonuria.1 2 3 4 5 When an infant with phenylketonuria has been so treated and has shown satisfactory mental development, the question how long the diet must be continued arises. Although our experience is in accord with that of Centerwall and his associates,6 who believe that the diet is readily manageable, it nevertheless is exacting, requires periodic blood sampling, means an added expense to the family and may have serious and possibly fatal complications.7 Centerwall . . .