Skip to main content
American Journal of Human Genetics logoLink to American Journal of Human Genetics
. 1984 Nov;36(6):1180–1189.

Carrier screening for phenylketonuria: comparison of two discriminant analysis procedures.

C L Freehauf, D Lezotte, S I Goodman, E R McCabe
PMCID: PMC1684636  PMID: 6517048

Abstract

Absence of a convenient, direct enzyme assay for detecting phenylketonuria (PKU) heterozygotes has resulted in continued effort to develop an accurate and reliable procedure to discriminate the heterozygous individual from the homozygous normal. Our study compares two statistical procedures that combine the semifasting plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine concentrations with the individuals' prior probability of being a heterozygous carrier in order to discriminate carriers from noncarriers. The results of this comparison indicate that the quadratic discriminant function is superior to the linear discriminant function as a method of carrier testing both in theory and in practice. An interactive computer system is described that facilitates the clinical utilization of the quadratic discriminant function.

Full text

PDF
1180

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Cabalska B., Nowaczewska I., Duczyńska N. Plasma amino acid pattern in phenylketonuric heterozygotes during pregnancy. Biochem Med. 1982 Jun;27(3):269–277. doi: 10.1016/0006-2944(82)90031-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cunningham G. C., Day R. W., Berman J. L., Hsia D. Y. Phenylalanine tolerance tests. In families with phenylketonuria and hyperphenylalaninemia. Am J Dis Child. 1969 Jun;117(6):626–635. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Gold R. J., Maag U. R., Neal J. L., Scriver C. R. The use of biochemical data in screening for mutant alleles and in genetic counselling. Ann Hum Genet. 1974 Jan;37(3):315–326. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.1974.tb01838.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Griffin R. F., Elsas L. J. Classic phenylketonuria: diagnosis through heterozygote detection. J Pediatr. 1975 Apr;86(4):512–517. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(75)80139-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Jackson S. H., Hanley W. B., Gero T., Gosse G. D. Detection of phenylketonuric heterozygotes. Clin Chem. 1971 Jun;17(6):538–543. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Paul T. D., Brandt I. K., Elsas L. J., Jackson C. E., Mamunes P., Nance C. S., Nance W. E. Phenylketonuria heterozygote detection in families with affected children. Am J Hum Genet. 1978 May;30(3):293–301. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Perry T. L., Hansen S., Tischler B., Bunting R. Determination of heterozygosity for phenylketonuria on the amino acid analyzer. Clin Chim Acta. 1967 Oct;18(1):51–56. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(67)90244-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Rose D. P., Cramp D. G. Reduction of plasma tyrosine by oral contraceptives and oestrogens: a possible consequence of tyrosine aminotransferase induction. Clin Chim Acta. 1970 Jul;29(1):49–53. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(70)90219-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Rosenblatt D., Scriver C. R. Heterogeneity in genetic control of phenylalanine metabolism in man. Nature. 1968 May 18;218(5142):677–678. doi: 10.1038/218677a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Yakymyshyn L. Y., Reid D. W., Campbell D. J. Problems in the biochemical detection of heterozygotes for phenylketonuria. Clin Biochem. 1972 Mar;5(1):73–81. doi: 10.1016/s0009-9120(72)80010-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Human Genetics are provided here courtesy of American Society of Human Genetics

RESOURCES