Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of pterins and metabolites of serotonin and dopamine in a pediatric reference population

Pediatr Res. 1993 Jul;34(1):10-4. doi: 10.1203/00006450-199307000-00003.

Abstract

Accurate diagnosis and management of inborn errors of monoamine neurotransmitter and tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism depend on reliable reference ranges of key metabolites. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected in a standardized way from 73 children and young adults with neurologic disease, with strict exclusions. In each specimen, concentrations of homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA), total neopterin, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) were measured using HPLC. There was a continuous decrement in CSF HVA, HIAA, and BH4 during the first few years of life; this was independent of height (or length). Age-related reference ranges for each metabolite are given. Extensive correlations between HVA, HIAA, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, and BH4 were further analyzed by multiple regression. Age and CSF BH4 were significant explanatory variables for CSF HIAA, but CSF HVA had only HIAA as a significant explanatory variable.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Biopterins / analogs & derivatives
  • Biopterins / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Homovanillic Acid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Infant
  • Neopterin
  • Pterins / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Reference Values
  • Serotonin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Pterins
  • Biopterins
  • Serotonin
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
  • Neopterin
  • 7,8-dihydrobiopterin
  • sapropterin
  • Dopamine
  • Homovanillic Acid