phenylketonuria
noun
phe·nyl·ke·ton·uria
| \ ˌfe-nᵊl-ˌkē-tᵊn-ˈu̇r-ē-ə
, ˌfē-, -ˈyu̇r-\
, ˌfē-, -ˈyu̇r-\
Definition of phenylketonuria
: an inherited metabolic disorder caused by an enzyme deficiency resulting in accumulation of phenylalanine and its metabolites in the blood causing usually severe intellectual disability and seizures unless phenylalanine is restricted from the diet beginning at birth
—abbreviation PKU
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from phenylketonuria
phenylketonuric
\ ˌfe-nᵊl-ˌkē-tᵊn-ˈu̇r-ik
, -ˈyu̇r- \
noun or adjective
, -ˈyu̇r- \
noun or adjective
Examples of phenylketonuria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some conditions, such as phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder that affects the processing of amino acids, have strong data to inform dietary recommendations. — Caitlin Ostroff, WSJ, "Your DNA, Your Diet: How Nutrition Is Being Personalized," 30 Aug. 2018 The case given above would fit especially well with a genetic disorder affecting metabolism, phenylketonuria (pku). — Longreads, "Fairy Scapegoats: A History of the Persecution of Changeling Children," 9 June 2018 In his infancy, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, phenylketonuria (commonly referred to as PKU), where the body cannot properly break down protein. — Susan Scutti, Newsweek, "The government owns your DNA. What are they doing with it?," 24 July 2014These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phenylketonuria.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for phenylketonuria
phenylketonuria
noun
phe·nyl·ke·ton·uria
| \ ˌfen-ᵊl-ˌkēt-ᵊn-ˈ(y)u̇r-ē-ə, ˌfēn-
\
\
Medical Definition of phenylketonuria
: a metabolic disorder that is caused by an enzyme deficiency resulting in the accumulation of phenylalanine and its metabolites (as phenylpyruvic acid) in the blood and their excess excretion in the urine, that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, and that causes usually severe intellectual disability, seizures, eczema, and abnormal body odor unless phenylalanine is restricted from the diet beginning at birth
—abbreviation PKU