Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid amino acids in epileptic patients.

Abstract

Altered plasma and cerebrospinal fluid amino acid levels may be associated with human epilepsy. We studied three groups of patients, those with a generalized epileptic syndrome, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, patients with refractory localization-related epilepsies, and patients with acute seizures (within 24 h). Plasma levels of amino acids were studied in all patient groups, as were those in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acute seizures. After acute seizures, the amino acid changes in the CSF were limited to a reduction in the level of taurine, whereas the levels of most amino acids in plasma were decreased. On the other hand, levels of the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate were increased. The most notable finding in the juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients was an increase in glutamate level in the plasma. Our study supports the conception of an altered metabolism of glutamate in generalized epilepsies.

• Authors: Sirpa Rainesalo, Tapani Keränen, Johanna Palmio, Jukka Peltola, Simo S Oja, Pirjo Saransaari
• Journal: Neurochemical research (Neurochem Res) Vol. 29 Issue 1 Pg. 319-24 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0364-3190 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14992292 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amino Acids

Topics

• Adult
• Amino Acids (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Epilepsy (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged