Effect of basal ganglia injury on central dopamine activity in Gulf War syndrome: correlation of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and plasma homovanillic acid levels.
BACKGROUND
Many complaints of Gulf War veterans are compatible with a neurologic illness involving the basal ganglia.


METHODS
In 12 veterans with Haley Gulf War syndrome 2 and in 15 healthy control veterans of similar age, sex, and educational level, we assessed functioning neuronal mass in both basal ganglia by measuring the ratio of N-acetyl-aspartate to creatine with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Central dopamine activity was assessed by measuring the ratio of plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenlyglycol (MHPG).


RESULTS
The logarithm of the age-standardized HVA/MHPG ratio was inversely associated with functioning neuronal mass in the left basal ganglia (R(2) = 0.56; F(1,27) = 33.82; P<.001) but not with that in the right (R(2) = 0. 04; F(1,26) = 1.09; P =.30). Controlling for age, renal clearances of creatinine and weak organic anions, handedness, and smoking did not substantially alter the associations.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction in functioning neuronal mass in the left basal ganglia of these veterans with Gulf War syndrome seems to have altered central dopamine production in a lateralized pattern. This finding supports the theory that Gulf War syndrome is a neurologic illness, in part related to injury to dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia.
Haley
R W
RW
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8874, USA. robert.haley@mednet.swmed.edu
Fleckenstein
J L
JL
Marshall
W W
WW
McDonald
G G
GG
Kramer
G L
GL
Petty
F
F
D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid