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[Metabolites of neurotransmitters in the cerebrospinal fluid in children]
Insights
Neurotransmitter metabolite levels, including homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), decrease with age in children. Lower 5-HIAA levels were observed in children with severe mental disorders and seizures.
Area of Science:
- Neurochemistry
- Pediatric Neurology
- Biomarker Analysis
Context:
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis provides insights into central nervous system neurotransmitter activity.
- Neurotransmitter metabolites like HVA and 5-HIAA are crucial indicators of dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways.
- Understanding age-related changes in these metabolites is vital for pediatric neurological assessment.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between age and the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in pediatric cerebrospinal fluid.
- To explore potential differences in these metabolite levels in children with severe mental disorders and seizure activity.
Summary:
- This study measured HVA and 5-HIAA levels in the CSF of 149 children aged 0-13 years using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.
- Results indicate an inverse correlation between metabolite concentrations and age, with neonates exhibiting the highest levels and toddlers/older children the lowest.
- A notable finding was the reduced 5-HIAA levels in mentally impaired children with seizures compared to those without seizures.
Impact:
- Establishes normative, age-dependent reference ranges for HVA and 5-HIAA in pediatric CSF.
- Suggests 5-HIAA as a potential biomarker for specific neurological conditions, particularly in children with mental disorders and seizures.
- Highlights the utility of CSF metabolite analysis in understanding neurodevelopmental trajectories and associated pathologies.
Abstract:
Metabolites of neurotransmitters, homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) were assessed in the cerebrospinal fluid of 149 children of different age from neonatal age to 13 years by the method of high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The mean concentration of the two metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid correlated indirectly with the childrens age--the highest mean concentrations of HVA and 5-HIAA were found in the group of neonates, lower values in infants and the lowest ones in the group of toddlers and older children. In the group of toddlers and older children with severe mental disorders and repeated tonic-clonic or myoclonic seizures a lower mean 5-HIAA was found in the cerebrospinal fluid than in children of equal age, similarly mentally affected but without seizures in the case-history.