Explanation
•In untreated children with phenylketonuria (PKU), the hallmark of the disease is intellectual disability. Other characteristics include fair skin, abnormal gait and posture, stunted growth, and urine with a musty odor.
•PKU is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. Absence of the liver enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase prevents conversion of phenylalanine, an essential amino acid, into tyrosine. As a result, excessive phenylalanine builds up in the blood stream and tissues causing permanent damage to brain tissue.
•Branched-chain ketoaciduria, or maple syrup urine disease, causes an inability to break down branched-chain amino acids, leading to a buildup of waste products.
•Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten triggers an inflammatory response in the digestive tract.
•Tay-Sach’s disease causes an inability to break down phospholipids, causing lipid accumulation in the brain and a rapid deterioration of mental and physicial abilities.