Cerebrospinal fluid nitrite and malondialdehyde levels in patients with motor neuron disease

Nitric oxide (NO) mediated oxidative damage may be involved in the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration in motor neuron disease (MND). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of NO and oxidative stress in MND by estimating nitrite and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 22 patients of MND and 20 control subjects suffering from neurological disorders not known to affect NO metabolism. There was no significant change in the CSF nitrite and MDA levels in MND. The nitrite and MDA levels did not have any significant correlation with age, duration of illness, or severity of disease. Univariate analysis of the clinical features in patients with MND and the nitrite levels revealed that two patients with a positive family history had significantly higher CSF nitrite levels as compared to those with a negative family history. There was no correlation between the CSF nitrite and MDA levels. Results of the present study did not indicate significant alterations in the MDA and NO levels in the CSF of MND patients. However, involvement of NO in MND with positive family history is suggested by the results obtained.