ELEVATED BIOPTERIN AND HOMOVANILLIC-ACID LEVELS IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID FROM CHILDREN WITH ASEPTIC-MENINGITIS

To examine biopterin fractions and biogenic amine metabolites in cereb rospinal fluid in aseptic meningitis, the concentrations of homovanill ic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and the total, the oxidized form, and the reduced form of biopterin were determined in cerebrospinal fl uid specimens hom 15 children with aseptic meningitis in the acute pha se, 15 children with aseptic meningitis in the recovery phase, and six other children as controls. The concentration of each substance was s ignificantly higher in the acute phase than in the recovery phase. Hom ovanillic acid in the acute phase was significantly increased compared to that in the control group. The concentrations of the total, the ox idized form, and the reduced form of biopterin, and 5-hydroxyindoleace tic acid were higher in the acute phase than those in the controls; ho wever, the differences were not significant. The concentration of each substance in the recovery phase was not significantly different from that in the controls. There was no difference in the 5-hydroxyindoleac etic acid/homovanillic acid ratio or in the reduced form/total biopter in ratio among the patients in acute and recovery phases and the contr ols. These results suggested that levels of biopterin and biogenic ami ne metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid are increased in the acute phase of aseptic meningitis and return to normal during the recovery phase. This is the first report of increased concentrations of biopterin fra ctions and biogenic amine metabolites in aseptic meningitis.