Biomaterial Database

Interhemispheric transfer in children with early-treated phenylketonuria. 1994

M L Gourovitch, and S Craft, and S B Dowton, and P Ambrose, and S Sparta

Washington University, Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis, MO 63130.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder of amino acid metabolism that is associated with brain catecholamine depletion and deficient myelination. Although neuropsychological deficits have been documented in children with early-treated PKU (ETPKU), no study to date has examined possible effects of impaired myelination in this population. In the present study, interhemispheric transfer time was assessed for 14 children with ETPKU, 22 children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and 48 normal children, using a manual reaction time paradigm previously validated with callosal agenesis patients (Milner, 1982). Children with ETPKU demonstrated slowed interhemispheric transfer from the left to the right hemisphere as compared with the two other groups. The magnitude of slowing was correlated with age and phenylalanine levels at birth. Results support the hypothesis that abnormal myelination disrupts the development of interhemispheric connections in ETPKU, and suggest that left hemisphere projections may be particularly susceptible to such disruption.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007360	Intelligence	The ability to learn and to deal with new situations and to deal effectively with tasks involving abstractions.
D008297	Male		Males
D009413	Nerve Fibers, Myelinated	A class of nerve fibers as defined by their structure, specifically the nerve sheath arrangement. The AXONS of the myelinated nerve fibers are completely encased in a MYELIN SHEATH. They are fibers of relatively large and varied diameters. Their NEURAL CONDUCTION rates are faster than those of the unmyelinated nerve fibers (NERVE FIBERS, UNMYELINATED). Myelinated nerve fibers are present in somatic and autonomic nerves.	A Fibers,B Fibers,Fiber, Myelinated Nerve,Fibers, Myelinated Nerve,Myelinated Nerve Fiber,Myelinated Nerve Fibers,Nerve Fiber, Myelinated
D010649	Phenylalanine	An essential aromatic amino acid that is a precursor of MELANIN; DOPAMINE; noradrenalin (NOREPINEPHRINE), and THYROXINE.	Endorphenyl,L-Phenylalanine,Phenylalanine, L-Isomer,L-Isomer Phenylalanine,Phenylalanine, L Isomer
D010661	Phenylketonurias	A group of autosomal recessive disorders marked by a deficiency of the hepatic enzyme PHENYLALANINE HYDROXYLASE or less frequently by reduced activity of DIHYDROPTERIDINE REDUCTASE (i.e., atypical phenylketonuria). Classical phenylketonuria is caused by a severe deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase and presents in infancy with developmental delay; SEIZURES; skin HYPOPIGMENTATION; ECZEMA; and demyelination in the central nervous system. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p952).	Biopterin Deficiency,Dihydropteridine Reductase Deficiency Disease,Hyperphenylalaninemia, Non-Phenylketonuric,Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Deficiency Disease,BH4 Deficiency,DHPR Deficiency,Deficiency Disease, Dihydropteridine Reductase,Deficiency Disease, Phenylalanine Hydroxylase,Deficiency Disease, Phenylalanine Hydroxylase, Severe,Dihydropteridine Reductase Deficiency,Folling Disease,Folling's Disease,HPABH4C,Hyperphenylalaninaemia,Hyperphenylalaninemia Caused by a Defect in Biopterin Metabolism,Hyperphenylalaninemia, BH4-Deficient, C,Hyperphenylalaninemia, Tetrahydrobiopterin-Deficient, Due To DHPR Deficiency,Non-Phenylketonuric Hyperphenylalaninemia,Oligophrenia Phenylpyruvica,PAH Deficiency,PKU, Atypical,Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Deficiency,Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Deficiency Disease, Severe,Phenylketonuria,Phenylketonuria I,Phenylketonuria II,Phenylketonuria Type 2,Phenylketonuria, Atypical,Phenylketonuria, Classical,QDPR Deficiency,Quinoid Dihydropteridine Reductase Deficiency,Tetrahydrobiopterin Deficiency,Atypical PKU,Atypical Phenylketonuria,Biopterin Deficiencies,Classical Phenylketonuria,Deficiency, BH4,Deficiency, Biopterin,Deficiency, DHPR,Deficiency, Dihydropteridine Reductase,Deficiency, PAH,Deficiency, Phenylalanine Hydroxylase,Deficiency, QDPR,Deficiency, Tetrahydrobiopterin,Disease, Folling,Disease, Folling's,Hyperphenylalaninemia, Non Phenylketonuric,Non Phenylketonuric Hyperphenylalaninemia,Non-Phenylketonuric Hyperphenylalaninemias
D011597	Psychomotor Performance	The coordination of a sensory or ideational (cognitive) process and a motor activity.	Perceptual Motor Performance,Sensory Motor Performance,Visual Motor Coordination,Coordination, Visual Motor,Coordinations, Visual Motor,Motor Coordination, Visual,Motor Coordinations, Visual,Motor Performance, Perceptual,Motor Performance, Sensory,Motor Performances, Perceptual,Motor Performances, Sensory,Perceptual Motor Performances,Performance, Perceptual Motor,Performance, Psychomotor,Performance, Sensory Motor,Performances, Perceptual Motor,Performances, Psychomotor,Performances, Sensory Motor,Psychomotor Performances,Sensory Motor Performances,Visual Motor Coordinations
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D001925	Brain Damage, Chronic	A condition characterized by long-standing brain dysfunction or damage, usually of three months duration or longer. Potential etiologies include BRAIN INFARCTION; certain NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS; CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA; ANOXIA, BRAIN; ENCEPHALITIS; certain NEUROTOXICITY SYNDROMES; metabolic disorders (see BRAIN DISEASES, METABOLIC); and other conditions.	Encephalopathy, Chronic,Chronic Encephalopathy,Chronic Brain Damage
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children