Serum and CSF vitamin A concentrations in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Elevated serum retinol, CSF retinol, and serum retinol binding protein (RBP) levels have been found in some patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), but serum and CSF retinol levels have not been studied in matched serum and CSF samples in patients with IIH.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether serum and CSF vitamin A concentrations are associated with IIH.


METHODS
The serum and CSF retinol concentrations were prospectively assessed in 20 patients with IIH and 20 control subjects.


RESULTS
CSF retinol concentration was higher in the patient group (median 575.91 nM) vs the control group (median 63.35 nM) (p < 0.05). There was no difference in serum retinol levels between control subjects (median 896.51 nM) and patients (median 1,002.62 nM) (p = 0.10). There was an association between higher vitamin A levels (> 250 nM) and IIH (p = 0.039). There was a correlation between CSF and serum retinol levels in patients (r = 0.82) and control subjects (r = 0.66).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated CSF retinol concentration is associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), but serum retinol level is not associated with IIH.
Tabassi
Abdolreza
A
Neuro-ophthalmology Clinic, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Salmasi
Amirali Hassanzadeh
AH
Jalali
Mahmoud
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001099:Arachnoid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D014801:Vitamin A