Increased CSF amino acids and ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia: a preliminary study

We found significantly higher levels of cerebrospinal fluid alanine, glycine, leucine, and phenylalanine in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy controls. Ventricular enlargement was present in 4 of 11 schizophrenics, and elevated CSF alanine was highly correlated with ventricular enlargement. The implications of these findings are discussed.