Changes in cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites, tryptophan, and gamma-aminobutyric acid during the 1st year of life in normal infants - Comparison with victims of sudden infant death syndrome

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, 5-hydr oxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, tryptophan, and gamma-aminobutyric acid were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography in 102 inf ants during the Ist year of life (preterm and term neonates Included). CSF levels ape expressed versus corrected age (postnatal days - preterm days) w hich reflects the stage of maturity of the central nervous system. These re sults are compared to those obtained in CSF of 53 victims of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). All components were significantly higher in SIDS tha n in the age-matched control group. This increase does not seem to be an ar tefact related to death. Indeed, under the same conditions concerning postm ortem time interval before CSF sampling and analysis, the levels are not si gnificantly higher in infants who died from a known pathology than in livin g infants. Moreover, in living infants as regards a pathology such as asphy xia or hypoventilation in comparison with SIDS, similar profiles are observ ed in some neurotransmitters or metabolites. Other studies are necessary to explore further neurotransmission systems in SIDS.