Cerebrospinal fluid quinolinic acid concentrations are increased in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Abstract

Dementia and brain atrophy are established features of a large proportion of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). To investigate a potential mechanism for atrophy in AIDS, we measured the concentration of the endogenous neurotoxin quinolinic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid of 10 patients with AIDS and found that they had 3-fold higher quinolinic acid concentrations than 9 age-matched control subjects: 53.8 +/- 10.7 pmol/ml versus 18.4 +/- 3.4 pmol/ml, respectively (p less than 0.005). It remains to be determined whether increased brain quinolinic acid concentrations are involved in the pathogenesis of the neuropathology of AIDS.

• Authors: M P Heyes, D Rubinow, C Lane, S P Markey
• Journal: Annals of neurology (Ann Neurol) Vol. 26 Issue 2 Pg. 275-7 (Aug 1989) ISSN: 0364-5134 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2528321 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pyridines
• Quinolinic Acids
• Tryptophan
• Quinolinic Acid

Topics

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Pyridines (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Quinolinic Acid
• Quinolinic Acids (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Tryptophan (metabolism)