title: Thiamin contents of cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and erythrocytes in cerebellar ataxias.
abstract: Free thiamin and thiamin monophosphate have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and in erythrocytes of patients suffering from ataxia of different origins. In erythrocytes, thiamin pyrophosphate was also measured. In a limited number of cases, uptake of 14C-thiamin by erythrocytes was found as well. Controls were hospitalized patients affected by chronic neurological diseases without any clinical sign of thiamin deficiency. The results showed a significant decrease in thiamin and thiamin monophosphate in the cerebrospinal fluid and in the plasma of ataxic subjects, in comparison to controls. In erythrocytes, only thiamin pyrophosphate levels had decreased. The uptake of 14C-thiamin by erythrocytes was similar in both ataxic and control groups. These results were comparable to those observed in thiamin-deficient individuals, like alcoholic patients, and prompted further investigation into thiamin metabolism in these diseases.
authors.affiliation: First Neurological Clinic, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poloni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzarello
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Laforenza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caramella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013831:Thiamine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013833:Thiamine Monophosphate / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D013833:Thiamine Monophosphate; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate; D013831:Thiamine