RESUMO
Electroencephalogram [EEG] is an easy and non invasive evaluation method for diagnosis and early prognosis in children. Our aim was to assess the association between EEG and the patients' Developmental Quotient [DQ] level in phenylketonuria. In this study, 94 PKU patients [45 boys, 49 girls; mean age 8.5 +/- 6.2 years] who were diagnosed through newborn screening tests or later were followed. PKU was confirmed with a serum phenylalanie concentration above 6 mg/dl in untreated newborns. The patients were matched in gender, age and phenylalanine level. The ASQ [Age and Stage Questionnaire] was used for evaluation of the developmental stage of the case [abnormal EEG] and control [normal EEG] groups and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale was used to assess cognitive and intellectual abilities. Finally, one way ANOVA and chi square tests were used for analysis and P<0.05 was considered significant. The case group consisted of 63 patients [67%] with abnormal EEGs and the control group consisted of 31 patients [33%] with normal EEGs. In patients with abnormal EEGs, 34 [53%] had mile, nine [14% had moderate and 20 [33%] had severe EEG changes. Distribution of high and low DQ levels in the abnormal and normal EEG patients showed a significant difference [p=0.001]. There was no significant difference between phenylalanine level in case and control groups; therefore, EEG findings may affect patients' developmental scores despite a normal phenylalanine level in PKU patients