title: Double blind placebo control trial of large neutral amino acids in treatment of PKU: effect on blood phenylalanine.
abstract: Large neutral amino acids (LNAA) have been used on a limited number of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) with the purpose of decreasing the influx of phenylalanine (Phe) to the brain. In an open-label study using LNAA, a surprising decline of blood Phe concentration was found in patients with PKU in metabolic treatment centres in Russia, the Ukraine, and the United States. To validate the data obtained from this trial, a short-term double-blind placebo control study was done using LNAA in patients with PKU, with the participation of three additional metabolic centres--Milan, Padua and Rio de Janeiro. The results of the short trial showed significant lowering of blood Phe concentration by an average of 39% from baseline. The data from the double-blind placebo control are encouraging, establishing proof of principle of the role of orally administered LNAA in lowering blood Phe concentrations in patients with PKU. Long-term studies will be needed to validate the acceptability, efficacy and safety of such treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Children's Hospital, Galveston, Texas, USA. rmatalon@utmb.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matalon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michals-Matalon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Burlina
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Burlina
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grechanina
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Novikov
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tyring
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guttler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D021542:Amino Acids, Neutral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood*; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D021542:Amino Acids, Neutral; D010649:Phenylalanine