title: The cerebrospinal fluid lactate is decreased in early stages of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate if the concentration of lactate can provide additional information for pathologies that need examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in their diagnostic controls or protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study carried out in the year 2001 at the University Hospital of Bellvitge (Barcelona), on 92 samples of CSF from patients who needed this examination. The concentration of lactate, glucose, and the cell count was determined. One year later, the diagnosis revealed from the previous analyzed samples were sorted into groups according to the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group with multiple sclerosis (MS) (n = 30), there was a significant decrease in lactate concentration (1.52 +/- 0.19 mmol/L) compared to the control group (1.89 +/- 0.11 mmol/L) (p < 0.001). The glucose concentration remained within the normal range and the cell count was < 4 cell/microL even in the relapses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the early stages of MS, the lactate concentration in CSF is decreased and this could be related to alterations in sensitivity observed in those patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate if this lactate concentration is a prognostic indicator of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Ciències Fisiològiques II, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona, Spain. afonalledas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: María Assumpta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fonalledas Perelló
authors.forename: José Valero
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: María Antónia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dallo Lizarraga
authors.forename: Ramón Segura
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cardona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid