NEUROTROPHIC FACTORS IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID AND SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH RETT-SYNDROME

Rett syndrome is now considered to be a neurodevelopmental disease. It s cause is unknown, but it has been suggested that neuronal growth fac tors and neurotransmitters play important roles. We measured levels of brain-derived neurotropic factor and glial cell line-derived neurotro phic factor in cerebrospinal fluid, and nerve growth factor and brain- derived neurotrophic factor in serum in child and adolescent patients with Rett syndrome. Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and gl ial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in cerebrospinal fluid were below the limit of sensitivity of the methods used. Serum levels of ne rve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor did not differ from control values. In Rett syndrome, the normal serum levels of ner ve growth factor together and previously reported low levels of the fa ctor in cerebrospinal fluid indicate that the latter may reflect low l evels of nerve growth factor in the central nervous system.