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Intelligence and professional career in young adults treated early for phenylketonuria

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Abstract

The intellectual status and professional careers of 51 young adults with phenylketonuria whose treatment started before 3 months of age are described. Their mean IQ was 97 (SD=16). Of the IQs, 4% were more than 2 SD below the norm. The distribution of types of schooling of the patients was comparable to that in the German population. The professional careers of nearly all the patients were according to their educational level. Within the sample the outcome was significantly correlated with phenylalanine (Phe) control, even when the patients’ social background was statistically taken into account. The main influence of Phe on intelligence seems to occur during the first decade of life since IQ data remain stable even after Phe levels increased during adolescence.

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Abbreviations

Phe :

phenylalanine

PKU :

phenylketonuria

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitätskinderklinik, Im Neuenheimer Feld 150, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    H. Schmidt, P. Burgard & A. Rupp

  2. Department of Paediatric Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 150, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    J. Pietz

Authors
  1. H. Schmidt
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  2. P. Burgard
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  3. J. Pietz
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  4. A. Rupp
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Schmidt, H., Burgard, P., Pietz, J. et al. Intelligence and professional career in young adults treated early for phenylketonuria. Eur J Pediatr 155 (Suppl 1), S97–S100 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00014262

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