DECREASED CHOLECYSTOKININ LEVELS IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH ADULT CHRONIC HYDROCEPHALUS SYNDROME

Cholecystokinin (CCK) levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF ) of patients with adult chronic hydrocephalus syndrome (ACHS) (n = 16 ) and compared with levels from a control group (n = 11). The CSF conc entration of CCK in the ACHS group (0.79 +/- 0.53 fmol/mL) was signifi cantly reduced (p = .002) with respect to the controls (1.55 +/- 0.54 fmol/mL). As CCK-8, the most prevalent form of CCK in the central nerv ous system, has been demonstrated to play a significant role in severa l physiological and behavioral actions, the reduced octapeptide values found in ACHS could be involved in the disturbances associated with t his disorder. Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) dem onstrated different ICP profiles in ACHS. We found that all patients w ith abnormal ICP records except one showed CCK values under the detect ion limit. Three of the 4 patients with normal ICP had CCK levels with in the normal range. These preliminary studies could evidence that ICP alterations are responsible for part of the loss of brain neuropeptid e levels in ACHS. (C) 1997 Society of Biological Psychiatry.