Phenylalanine-free Diet Lowers the Blood Phenylalanine Levels in Patients With High Phenylalanine Level in the Intensive Care Unit
Hyperphenylalaninemia is not only present in patients with congenital phenylketonuria. In adults with critical illness, hyperphenylalaninemia is noted in some patients and is associated with high mortality rate. Hyperphenylalaninemia can cause metabolic acidosis, brain dysfunction, and metabolic disturbance. The investigators would like to see whether the phenylalanine-free milk for congenital phenylketonuria is also effective in lowering the blood phenylalanine concentrations in patients with critical illness in intensive care unit and hyperphenylalaninemia.
• had Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scores of ≥15;
• were expected to stay in the ICU \>48 hours;
• patients with baseline PHE levels of ≥95 uM;
• were over 20 years old.