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Published on: July 13, 2014
Elevated cerebrospinal fluid histidine in alcohol withdrawal
R J Hawley1, E Schulman, L F Major
1Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) histidine levels are significantly elevated during early alcohol withdrawal and remain high even after clinical resolution. This study highlights potential alterations in amino acid metabolism during this syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurochemistry
- Clinical Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a complex condition with significant neurological and physiological effects.
- Understanding the biochemical changes during AWS is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis offers insights into the central nervous system's metabolic state.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concentration of histidine and other amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients during acute alcohol withdrawal.
- To determine if CSF amino acid levels change as alcohol withdrawal symptoms resolve.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amino acid concentrations using established analytical techniques.
- Comparison of histidine and other amino acid levels in patients during early AWS and after clinical resolution against normal controls.
Main Results:
- CSF histidine concentration was significantly elevated in patients during early alcohol withdrawal (206.3 +/- 74.4 nanomols/ml).
- Elevated CSF histidine levels persisted even after clinical resolution of alcohol withdrawal symptoms (164.7 +/- 24.7 nanomols/ml), remaining significantly higher than normal controls (12.0 +/- 0.5 nanomols/ml).
- No significant changes were observed in other measured amino acids (aspartic acid, serine, alanine, methionine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, arginine) during AWS or its resolution.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is associated with a marked and persistent elevation of histidine in the cerebrospinal fluid.
- The findings suggest a potential disruption in histidine metabolism or transport during and after acute alcohol withdrawal.
- Further research is warranted to explore the functional implications of elevated CSF histidine in AWS and its variability.
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