title: CSF beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in delirium.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (CSF BLI) was determined for 69 patients who met DSM-III criteria for delirium and for 8 controls. The CSF BLI was significantly lower in the delirious patient group than in the controls (12.5 +/- 3.0 pg/ml versus 15.0 +/- 3.4 pg/ml, p less than 0.05). CSF BLI had no correlation with age or neuroleptic drug dosage, but did have a significant positive correlation with cognitive functioning as evaluated by the Mini-Mental State. Our findings suggest a role for beta-endorphinergic dysfunction in the development of delirium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koponen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stenbäck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reinikainen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soininen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Riekkinen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D003693:Delirium / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin