title: Cerebrospinal fluid levels of cyclic nucleotides in non-neoplastic hydrocephalus: preliminary report.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid levels of cyclic nucleotides in children with hypertensive communicating hydrocephalus secondary to leptomeningitis were investigated. 3':5'-cAMP and 3':5'-cGMP values were uniformly increased in pre-operative findings, suggesting a "passive" behaviour of the blood brain barrier after the inflammatory lesion. After ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, the mean ratio between the two nucleotides gradually became negative, with a marked increase of cGMP levels, probably related to selective barrier damage. In patients with shunt obstruction, the altered cAMP/cGMP ratio showed a gradual regression towards normal, due to a decrease in the cGMP level. The important role of endocranial pressure changes in the "second messenger" turnover is stressed.
mesh_terms: D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP