Reference values for amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid of children determined using ion-exchange chromatography with fluorimetric detection.
One thousand specimens of CSF were collected from subjects ranging in age from newborn to 18 yr, who were undergoing a diagnostic lumbar puncture. Sixty-two samples were judged retrospectively as being suitable for calculating reference age-related values. The analyses were performed by an amino acid analyser using ion-exchange chromatography with fluorimetric detection giving a tenfold increase in sensitivity, thereby enhancing the diagnostic capabilities. As many as 36 known compounds could be detected, additionally 10 we could not identify. In children older than 3 yr nine of the identified compounds showed age-dependency. We found 22 amino acids to be significantly higher in infants younger than 1 yr, with only gamma-aminobutyric acid being significantly lower in infants. Alpha-aminoadipic acid showed a sex difference, being slightly higher in girls.
Gerrits
G P
GP
Department of Pediatrics, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Trijbels
F J
FJ
Monnens
L A
LA
Gabreëls
F J
FJ
De Abreu
R A
RA
Theeuwes
A G
AG
van Raay-Selten
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012015:Reference Standards; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods
D000596:Amino Acids