A rare disorder of phenylalanine metabolism, an inborn error of amino acid metabolism, characterized by the development of microcephaly, growth retardation, congenital heart disease, facial dysmorphism and intellectual disability in nonphenylketonuric offspring of mothers with excess phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations.
Seizures are an intermittent abnormality of the central nervous system due to a sudden, excessive, disorderly discharge of cerebral neurons and characterized clinically by some combination of disturbance of sensation, loss of consciousness, impairment of psychic function, or convulsive movements. The term epilepsy is used to describe chronic, recurrent seizures.
Abnormal cerebral cortical neurons in a child with maternal PKU syndrome.
Lacey DJ, Terplan K. J Child Neurol. 1987;2(3):201-4.
This is the first report of specific neuronal abnormalities in a child with the maternal PKU syndrome and may, in part, account for the clinical features of microcephaly, mental retardation, and seizures seen in affected children.
