title: Quantification of Amino Acid Neurotransmitters in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Neurocysticercosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic disease that affects the central nervous system. Its main clinical manifestations are epileptic seizures. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between neurotransmitter concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the different evolutive forms of neurocysticercosis with or without seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurotransmitter concentrations (Aspartate, Glutamate, GABA, Glutamine, Glycine, Taurine) were determined in CSF samples from 42 patients with neurocysticercosis divided into patients with the active cystic form (n = 24, 12 with and 12 without seizures) and patients with calcified form (n = 18, 12 with and 6 without seizures), and a control group consisting of 59 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alterations in amino acid concentration were observed in all patients with neurocysticercosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that disturbances in amino acid metabolism accompany the presentation of neurocysticercosis. Replacement of the terms inactive cyst by reactive inactive cyst and calcification by reactive calcification is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Departamento De Neurologia E Neurocirurgia Da Universidade Federal De São Paulo/Hospital São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Augusto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Departamento De Neurologia E Neurocirurgia Da Universidade Federal De São Paulo/Hospital São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Ferreira
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Bertolucci
keywords: Neurocysticercosis; neuronal damage; neurotransmitters