Active clinical trials for "Phenylketonurias"

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of long-term treatment with Kuvan.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate that a new protein substitute is acceptable and well tolerated in children with PKU.

Phenylketonuria(PKU)is a rare condition caused by the body's inability to properly breakdown an amino acid called phenylalanine(PHE), due to a missing enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase(PAH). When the enzyme is missing and/or not functioning properly, it increases the level of PHE in the body. High levels of PHE can cause severe brain damage or nerve damage unless the children are on a strict low PHE diet. A low PHE diet restricts the intake of protein rich foods and can pose a significant burden to both the patient and the family. Investigators at the University of British Columbia and British Columbia Children's Hospital will examine the phenylalanine metabolism in children with PKU using a simple breath test. Patients (5-18y) receiving standard clinical care at the BC Children's Hospital's Biochemical Diseases Clinic will be enrolled.The study will be conducted twice on each patient. Baseline measurements will be performed at the beginning of each study for each patient.The Physician in charge will then prescribe the standard dose of sapropterin dihydrochloride (Kuvan®) (20mg/kg/d) or otherwise as deemed appropriate by the physician-in-charge. The test will be repeated a week (minimum) after the beginning of treatment with the prescribed dose. The investigators propose that children who are responsive to sapropterin dihydrochloride (Kuvan®) will have increased 13CO2 in breath after treatment, and those who do not respond will have no change in the 13CO2 in the breath before and after treatment. As a comparison to the experimental group, age and gender matched healthy controls will also be studied. The test in healthy controls will be performed once without any intervention, and is only used as a comparative value.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a metabolic disease of genetic origin. This is a rare disease (incidence 1 / 16000 births) which is the subject of a systematic neonatal screening in France, because it is treatable by a diet low in phenylalanine. This plan is required upon confirmation of diagnosis and continued until the age of 8 years. The current trend is to continue the scheme at least until adolescence. Unlike other countries, in France there are no recommendations for a plan "for life". Knowledge about the natural history of PKU in adulthood, the effects of pediatric age, the frequency of complicated shapes, and prognostic factors are poorly documented. On the other hand, there is no consensus on the therapeutic management of this disease in adulthood and monitoring that could be directed towards the detection of neurological disorders and nutrition. Social integration and quality of life of adults PKU patients living in France have not been studied.

To validate the outcome measures and the tolerability of Kuvan treatment in the improvement of behavioral symptoms in 10 selected adults with Phenylketonuria (PKU) with or without mental retardation.

Kuvan® is a synthetic copy of a body's own substance called tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). BH4 is required by the body to use an amino acid called phenylalanine in order to build another substance called tyrosine. Kuvan® received marketed authorisation in Europe in December 2008 and is now available in several European countries for the treatment of Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA). The primary objective is to assess the long-term safety in subjects treated with Kuvan®. Secondary objectives are to provide additional information regarding: Safety in specific subject groups (elderly, pediatric, pregnant women and subjects with renal or hepatic insufficiency). Growth and neurocognitive outcomes for subjects with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) who are receiving treatment with Kuvan®. Progress and outcome of pregnancy for women with HPA who become pregnant while receiving treatment with Kuvan® (these women will be enrolled in a dedicated sub-registry). Assessment of adherence to diet and to Kuvan®. Assessment of long-term sensitivity to Kuvan®treatment.

The objective of the study is to determine whether Kuvan™ (sapropterin) improves the strength of the functional connectivity between brain regions in individuals with PKU.

HYPOTHESIS: The investigators hypothesize that KuvanTM therapy could influence nutritional and body composition parameters and neurotransmitter concentrations in pediatric and adult PKU subjects. SUMMARY: Though the investigators know that KuvanTM lowers blood Phe levels and improves tolerance for natural protein in at least half of the PKU (Phenylketonuria) patient population, investigators do not know the full effects this medicine will have on the patient's diet, or what impact the medicine or diet changes will have on the body composition or nutrient status of PKU patients. Since KuvanTM may also help the body produce neurotransmitters, investigators also want to find out if taking KuvanTM changes neurotransmitter levels in PKU patients, and if PKU patients who are benefitting from KuvanTM feel less stigmatized and have a better outlook on life as a result of the treatment. Therefore, the research study has several objectives. These are to investigate the impact KuvanTM therapy has on (1) body composition parameters of PKU patients: such as lean body mass, percent body fat, bone density, weight gain, and growth (2) dietary changes, and the effect of those changes, on intake of calories and essential nutrients (3) changes in blood biomarkers of certain nutrients (4) blood and urine neurotransmitter levels, since these changes could indicate improved neurological functioning, (5) and quality of life of PKU patients, who may feel less burdened due to the dietary freedom KuvanTM provides.

The purpose of this study is to see if children, who develop coma from malaria, are not making enough of a vitamin-like chemical, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), which is required for the brain to function normally. This information may help to identify new ways to treat malaria in the future. Study participants will include 512 children, ages 6 months to 6 years. Participants will be placed into one of 4 groups: well children; children with mild malaria; children without malaria, but with a medical problem involving the brain that requires a lumbar puncture for diagnosis (a procedure in which a needle is placed into an area surrounding the spinal cord and a sample of cerebral spinal fluid is removed); and children with a severe form of malaria affecting the brain called cerebral malaria. Study procedures will include blood samples, urine samples and lumbar puncture, only if necessary for diagnosis as part of standard practice procedures. Participants will be involved in study related procedures for up to 3 weeks.

The objective of this study is to characterize the natural history of phenylketonuria (PKU) due to phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency in adults through prospective collection of clinical, cognitive, and quality of life assessments.