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Homovanillic acid in cerebrospinal fluid of 1388 children with neurological disorders
Author(s) -
MoleroLuis Marta,
Serrano Mercedes,
Ormazábal Aida,
PérezDueñas Belén,
GarcíaCazorla Àngels,
Pons Roser,
Artuch Rafael
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.12116
Subject(s) - homovanillic acid , cerebrospinal fluid , medicine , dopaminergic , white matter , odds ratio , pediatrics , gastroenterology , physiology , endocrinology , dopamine , pathology , magnetic resonance imaging , serotonin , receptor , radiology
Aim To determine the prevalence of dopaminergic abnormalities in 1388 children with neurological disorders, and to analyse their clinical, neuroradiological, and electrophysiological characteristics. Method We studied biogenic amines in 1388 cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) samples from children with neurological disorders (mean age 3y 10mo, SD 4y 5mo; 712 males, 676 females. Correlations among CSF homovanillic acid ( HVA ) values and other biochemical, clinical, neuroradiological, and electrophysiological parameters were analysed. Results Twenty‐one patients with primary dopaminergic deficiencies were identified. Of the whole sample, 20% showed altered HVA . We report neurological diseases with abnormal CSF HVA values such as pontocerebellar hypoplasia, perinatal asphyxia, central nervous system infections, mitochondrial disorders, and other genetic diseases. Overlapping HVA levels between primary and secondary dopamine deficiencies were observed. Prevalence of low CSF HVA levels was significantly higher in neonatal patients (χ 2 =84.8, p <0.001). Abnormalities in white matter were associated with low CSF HVA (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.5–3.5). Interpretation HVA abnormalities are observed in various neurological diseases, but some are probably an unspecific finding. No clear limits for CSF HVA values pointing towards primary diseases can be stated. We report several neurological diseases showing HVA alterations. No neuroimaging traits were associated with low HVA values, except for white matter abnormalities.