Kynurenic acid is decreased in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with infantile spasms.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 8 patients with symptomatic infantile spasms was collected before specific treatment for infantile spasms. The concentration of CSF kynurenic acid (KYA) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OHKY) in infantile spasms was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and compared with CSF KYA from 10 age-matched controls. The levels of CSF KYA were significantly lower in infantile spasm patients compared to controls (P < .05). In contrast, the levels of CSF 3-OHKY were significantly higher in infantile spasm patients than in controls (P < .05). These findings suggest that the presence of seizures in infantile spasms is associated with altered metabolism of 3-OHKY. The possibility that seizures may be related to increased or decreased production of certain kynurenine metabolites is discussed.
Yamamoto
H
H
Department of Pediatrics, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Shindo
I
I
Egawa
B
B
Horiguchi
K
K
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis
C005045:3-hydroxykynurenine; D007737:Kynurenine; D007736:Kynurenic Acid