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Factors influencing outcomes in the offspring of mothers with phenylketonuria during pregnancy: the importance of variation in maternal blood phenylalanine^1,2

¹ From the Charles Dent Metabolic Unit, The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom (FM, ML, JB, and PJL), and the Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom (DWM)

Background: Developmental delay in the offspring of women with phenylketonuria (PKU) can be prevented by maintaining maternal blood phenylalanine (Phe) within a target range (100–250 µmol/L).

Objective: We aimed to analyze outcomes in the offspring of women with PKU during pregnancy and to identify prognostic factors.

Design: Occipitofrontal circumference at birth (OFC-B); developmental scores [developmental quotient (DQ) and intelligence quotient (IQ)]at 1, 4, 8, and 14 y; and the time of starting a Phe-restricted diet (before or after conception) were collected. The influence of maternal Phe concentrations during pregnancy on offspring outcomes also was assessed.

Results: The study included 105 children born to 67 mothers with PKU. Mean (±SD) OFC-B z scores did not differ between the preconception and postconception diet groups (0.42 ± 1.24 and –0.96 ± 1.19, respectively). DQ at 1 y and IQ at 8 y were higher in offspring from the preconception diet group than in offspring from the postconception diet group [DQ: 107 ± 13.8 and 99.3 ± 13.3, respectively (P = 0.014); IQ: 110.6 ± 14.8 and 91.2 ± 23.9, respectively (P = 0.005)]. Maternal Phe concentrations correlated negatively with DQ and IQ scores, and variations (SD) in all maternal blood Phe correlated negatively with 4-, 8-, and 14-y IQ scores (r = –0.385, –0.433, and –0.712; P = 0.002, 0.008, and 0.031, respectively), even when concentrations were consistently within the target range.

Conclusions: The study suggests that women with PKU should start a Phe-restricted diet before conception. Maintenance of maternal blood Phe within the target range predicts good offspring outcomes, but variations even within that range should be avoided.