[Early diagnosis of the Tourette syndrome]

A test for diagnosing rapid hyperkinesias based on determining phenylacetoglutamine (PAG), an end product of phenylalanine metabolism, is offered. It was found that in patients with Tourette's syndrome PAG excretion with the urine was lowered, the degree of this lowering being independent of the patients' age, sex, and nourishment. An increase in PAG excretion was observed in patients with the asthenoneurotic syndrome. In patients with a sharp increase in PAG excretion, the treatment with haloperidol appeared to be ineffective. The data obtained allow a conclusion that the lowered PAG excretion is an early prognostic sign of a number of nervous system diseases accompanied with hyperkinesias. The level of PAG excretion with the urine can also serve as a criterion determining advisability of haloperidol administration.