Pattern evoked potentials in phenylketonuria

Donnell Creel, Bruce A. Buehler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Humans with untreated phenylketonuria (PKU) are candidates for having misrouted optic projections related to their hypopigmentation. Six tractable PKUs were tested using scalp-recorded evoked potentials. Both pattern reversal and pattern onset/offset (appearance/disappearance) stimuli were used under conditions of binocular and monocular stimulation. Evoked potentials were of normal form and hemispheric symmetry following both monocular and binocular stimulation in 5 of the 6 PKUs. The exception demonstrated a small hemispheric asymmetry upon stimulation of the left eye, but not following stimulation of the right eye. The asymmetry observed in this subject was probably idiosyncratic and not representative of PKUs in general. Four of the 6 PKUs produced longer than normal P100 latencies to pattern reversal. This may be related to incomplete postnatal myelination. There appears to be no detectable optic misrouting in PKU. In spite of total absence of fetal phenylalanine hydroxylase activity, availability of tyrosine and melanin pigment is evidently sufficient during early development of the visual system to permit normal decussation of optic fibers at the chiasm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)220-223
Number of pages4
JournalElectroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology
Volume53
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1982
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pattern evoked potentials in phenylketonuria'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this