CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID LEVELS OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL IN AMYOTROPHIC-LATERAL-SCLEROSIS

We compared CSF and serum levels, and the CSF/serum ratio of alpha-toc opherol (vitamin E), measured by HPLC, in 30 patients with sporadic am yotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS) and 78 matched controls. The mean C SF and serum vitamin E levels did not differ significantly between the 2 study groups. These values were not influenced by the clinical form (spinal versus bulbar) of SALS. CSF alpha-tocopherol levels did not c orrelate with age, age at onset, and duration of the disease. These re sults suggest that CSF and serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations are u nrelated with the risk for ALS.