Neopterin and biopterin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid in controls less than 1 year old

Neopterin and biopterin concentrations were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine samples from controls less than 1 year old. This is the fi rst time for CSF reference data for controls less than 1 year old to be rep orted. The ratio of neopterin to biopterin in CSF 0-30 days (n = 48) of age in control samples was 0.65 +/- 0.31 (SD), which was far lower than that i n urine over the same time period, 4.0 +/- 1.9 (SD), (n = 51). This finding is very important when diagnosing 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase (PTP S) deficiency and peripheral form of PTPS deficiency in the neonatal period . Our CSF reference data for controls should be useful in the diagnosis of PTPS deficiency. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.