We have now reached a new era in PKU, where the first adults diagnosed at birth through newborn screening face managing their condition throughout adulthood. This brings new challenges, and we urgently need to find ways to evolve care and support the needs of everyone living with PKU.
Building on research and recommendations delivered by the European Society for Phenylketonuria and Allied Disorders Treated as Phenylketonuria (ESPKU) in 2015 and the most recent European clinical guidelines in 2017, the Live Unlimited campaign is calling for specific aspects of care for adults with PKU to be improved to adequately reflect the lifelong nature of the condition.
The European guidelines set-out clear standards for the management of PKU. Where no national guidelines exist, these should be implemented fully to ensure that people with PKU have access to the support and care they need2.
Despite the neurological effects of PKU and extremely restrictive diet recommended for controlling Phe, studies have suggested that only 12% of patients in Europe have access to a multi-disciplinary team consisting of specialist physicians, nutritionists, specialty nurses, psychologists and clinical biochemists3.
While children with PKU generally see a specialist every month, adults are typically only seen once a year or less2,3.
After the age of 18, many people with PKU stop visiting a specialist at all, often due to a perceived lack of support from clinicians and apathy towards dietary adherence4.
We believe that PKU can be better managed by ensuring regular follow-up throughout adulthood, beginning with an individual care plan while transitioning from paediatric to adult care5.
