The cerebrospinal fluid lactate is decreased in early stages of multiple sclerosis.
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.
Fonalledas Perelló
María Assumpta
MA
Departament de Ciències Fisiològiques II, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona, Spain. afonalledas@hotmail.com
Politi
José Valero
JV
Dallo Lizarraga
María Antónia
MA
Cardona
Ramón Segura
RS
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
D019344:Lactic Acid