EXCITATORY AMINO-ACIDS IN THE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF ASPHYXIATED INFANTS - RELATIONSHIP TO HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Asphyxiated (n = 27) and control infants (n = 25) were subjected to sp inal taps. Amino acids were measured with liquid chromatography and th e degree of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy was determined in each cas e. In asphyxiated infants, the concentrations of aspartate and glutama te were 286% and 387% (p less-than-or-equal-to 0.01 and p less-than-or -equal-to 0.05) of the control values, respectively. The cerebrospinal fluid aspartate levels were significantly (p less-than-or-equal-to 0. 05) higher in the group with severe (3.4 mumol/l) compared with the gr oup with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (1.0 mumol/l). Glutamate was also higher in the group with severe (12.3 mumol/l) than in the g roups with mild (2.7 mumol/l) or moderate (3.2 mumol/l) hypoxic-ischem ic encephalopathy (p less-than-or-equal-to 0.05). High concentrations of excitatory amino acids were present in the CSF of asphyxiated infan ts which may exert excitotoxic effects.