Simple Breath Test to Examine Phenylalanine Metabolism

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Official Title
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Use of a Simple Breath Test to Examine Phenylalanine Metabolism in Children With Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Conditions
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Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Study Subjects: Children (4-18y)diagnosed with PKU Parent(s) or guardian(s) willing and able to provide informed signed consent. Parent(s) or guardian(s) willing and able to comply with all study procedures Healthy controls: Healthy Children (4-18y) with no health condition Willing to go through an initial screening for age and gender match Parents or guardians willing and able to provide informed signed consent. Parents or guardians willing and able to comply with study procedures Exclusion Criteria: Study Subjects: Children < 4y of age diagnosed with PKU, as it may be challenging to collect breath samples and perform indirect calorimeter in very young children Children (4-18y)who are diagnosed with PKU, but are currently ill, with a fever, cold, vomiting or diarrhea Healthy controls: Healthy Children < 4y of age , as it may be challenging to collect breath samples and perform indirect calorimeter in very young children. Healthy Children (4-18y), but are currently ill, with a fever, cold, vomiting or diarrhea.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 5 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Phenylketonuria (PKU); Healthy Controls<br>Children with PKU (5-18y); Age and Gender matched healthy subjects for comparison | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 13C (carbon dioxide) production | Breath samples are collected to measure 13C (carbon dioxide) production. Rate of carbon dioxide produced is measured at 60 minutes after the start of the study using an indirect calorimeter. | 2 hours (1 study day) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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PKU, Phenylketonuria, Phenylalanine, Children, Stable isotopes, Sapropterin dihydrochloride responsiveness