Gangliosides and sulfatide in cerebrospinal fluid in leukoaraiosis

The aim of the study was to evaluate gangliosides and sulfatide in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as markers for neuronal degeneration, gliosis, and demyelination in leukoaraiosis (LA). Lumbar CSF samples were taken from 37 elderly subjects with LA on computed tomography (CT). Patients with other pathology than LA or infarction on CT were excluded. In addition, CSF samples were collected from 16 elderly reference subjects without any neurological disease. Gangliosides GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b, GD3, and sulfatide were determined. This concentration of the individual gangliosides and sulfatide showed no correlation with age. Gangliosides GD1b, GT1b, and GD3 were elevated in patients with mild LA compared to controls and patients with moderate or severe LA. GD1a was elevated in patients with mild LA compared to those with moderate LA. The concentration of sulfatide did not differ between the groups. When the patients were grouped in accordance to whether they had had cerebral infarction or not, differences between the groups were not found in the concentrations of any gangliosides and sulfatide. In conclusion, the analysis of CSF markers suggests that neuronal degeneration and gliosis predominate in the early stage of LA.