The effect of lumbar puncture stress on dopamine and serotonin metabolitesin human cerebrospinal fluid

In order to examine concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurochemic als, the technique of lumbar puncture is typically used. However, the effec t of the intrinsic stress of undergoing a lumbar puncture on CSF monoamine concentrations in humans has not yet been established. We used lumbar punct ure followed 3 h later by continuous CSF sampling to examine the effect of lumbar puncture on revels of the dopamine and serotonin metabolites homovan illic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), respectively. Add itionally, we examined the effect of lumbar puncture on the CSF HVA to 5-HI AA ratio. Immediately post lumbar puncture, CSF concentrations of HVA and 5 -HIAA were, respectively, only 51 and 54% of the mean levels detected hours later. However, the HVA to 5-HIAA ratio remained stable during lumbar punc ture. While HVA and 5-HIAA levels in CSF obtained via lumbar puncture refle ct highly variable responses to the stress of the procedure, the ratio of t hese metabolites is unaffected. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.