Glutamate levels in cerebrospinal fluid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a reappraisal using a new HPLC method with coulometric detection in a large cohort of patients.

摘要: Glutamate is involved in the degeneration of motor neurons amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, aetiology ALS appears heterogeneous, leading to possibility that patient subgroups with different pathophysiology may exist. The concentration glutamate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measured using a new HPLC method coulometric detection large cohort patients and controls: 377 patients, 88 neurological 18 normal controls. In only these subjects, existence two groups was observed, one concentrations (40.8% patients) high concentrations. High were correlated spinal onset disease, more impaired limb function higher rate muscle deterioration. These results suggest elevations CSF could reflect intensity cell insult cord. It remains be determined if group represents specific subgroup terms mechanism or spatial extent neuron insult.