Reduced lumbar cerebrospinal fluid corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is widely distributed within the brain and spinal cord and may have direct extrahypophysiotrophic effects, independent of its pituitary action. The CRF level was measured using, the RIA method in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 5 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and in CSF from 10 patients with discopathy, treated as a controlled group. The median values of CRF level in the patients with ALS was 27.5 pg/ml, and this value was significantly lower than in controls, 53.5 pg/ml (P less than 0.05). These results suggests that CRF may be related in the pathophysiology of ALS.