Prognosis


 * The individual is expected to be very healthy if they follow the very strict diet closely after birth. However, if it is delayed in any way or it is not diagnosed then brain damage will occur.
 * If foods with proteins that are high in phenylalanine are not properly avoided, then PKU can lead to mental disabilities by the first year of life.
 * An enzyme assay can allow you to know wether you or your parents carry the gene for PKU, and Chorionis villus sampling can be done on pregnant women to see if the unborn baby will have PKU.
 * If a pregnant women has PKU it is crucial that she follows a very strict low-phenylalanine diet, since the build up of this substance will damage the unborn baby even if the child does not have phenylketonuria.