Increased monoamine metabolite concentrations and cholinesterase activities in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acute stroke.
Twenty-one patients with acute brain infarction, 8 with transient ischemic attack and 20 controls were investigated for lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites and cholinesterases. The diseased patients were lumbar punctured on 2 occasions, mean Days 1 (0-3) and 5 (3-9) after debut of symptoms. Monoamine concentrations were determined by reverse phase liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and the cholinergic enzymes were measured photometrically. Increased concentrations of 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HI-AA) and increased activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid was found in patients with acute brain infarction when compared to control values, while the levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were not altered. No change of any neurotransmitter metabolite concentration/enzyme activity were found between Day 1 and Day 5 in the diseased patients. These data suggest an increased release of these neurotransmitter markers from necrotic brain areas into the cerebrospinal fluid and/or altered barriers between blood, brain and CSF and/or a dysfunction of the arachnoid villi to clear substances from the CSF. We therefore concluded that CSF neurotransmitters may be useful as specific brain markers in acute stroke.
Wester
P
P
Department of Pathology, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Puu
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G
Reiz
S
S
Winblad
B
B
Wester
P O
PO
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000201:enzymology; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D002802:Cholinesterases