In adolescents and adults with PKU, blood phenylalanine levels above 1
0 mg/dl are generally associated with white matter changes in MRI. The
grade of these changes is correlated to most recent blood phenylalani
ne levels. Based on studies using T-2 relaxometry the MRI changes seem
to be the consequence of a reversible dysmyelination. The clinical re
levance of these white matter changes remains unclear as the extent of
MRI alterations did not correlate with IQ, neurological and electroph
ysiological deficits of the patients. The intracerebral phenylalanine
concentration as measured by protonspectroscopy amounts to about 50% o
f blood phenylalanine concentrations. Preliminary data indicate that b
rain phenylalanine levels remain constant if blood concentrations exce
ed 20 mg/dl. This might be of clinical relevance for the treatment of
adolescent and adult PKU patients.