ENDOGENOUS NEUROPEPTIDES IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE TRAUMATIC HEAD-INJURY.2. CHANGES IN THE LEVELS OF CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID SUBSTANCE-P, SEROTONIN AND LIPID-PEROXIDATION PRODUCTS IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD TRAUMA

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of substance P (SP), serotonin (5 -HT) and lipid peroxidation (LPx) products were measured in patients w ith traumatic head injury and then compared to the levels obtained fro m control subjects. CSF samples were collected from 45 patients (31 ma le, 14 female, aged 19.2 +/- 17.79) within 24 h of the head trauma and the control CSF samples were obtained from 25 healthy subjects (23 ma le, 2 female, aged 51.44 +/- 17.6 years) having minor surgical operati ons under spinal anaesthesia. CSF SP and 5-HT levels in patients with head trauma were significantly lower than the levels in controls (P < 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively). On the other hand, the CSF Lpx produc ts were significantly increased in patients with head trauma (P < 0.00 1). No significant correlation was found between the CSF changes and t he admission Glasgow Coma Scale scores of the patients. This study con stitutes the second part of our work on endogenous neuropeptides in pa tients with traumatic head injury and it emphasizes the role of SP, 5- HT and lipid peroxidation as additional endogenous factors in traumati c head injuries.