Elevated Biopterin and Homovanillic Acid Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid From Children With Aseptic Meningitis

Abstract

To examine biopterin fractions and biogenic amine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid in aseptic meningitis, the concentrations of homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and the total, the oxidized form, and the reduced form of biopterin were determined in cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 15 children with aseptic meningitis in the acute phase, 15 children with aseptic meningitis in the recovery phase, and six other children as controls. The concentration of each substance was significantly higher in the acute phase than in the recovery phase. Homovanillic acid in the acute phase was significantly increased compared to that in the control group. The concentrations of the total, the oxidized form, and the reduced form of biopterin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were higher in the acute phase than those in the controls; however, the differences were not significant. The concentration of each substance in the recovery phase was not significantly different from that in the controls. There was no difference in the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/homovanillic acid ratio or in the reduced form/total biopterin ratio among the patients in acute and recovery phases and the controls. These results suggested that levels of biopterin and biogenic amine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid are increased in the acute phase of aseptic meningitis and return to normal during the recovery phase. This is the first report of increased concentrations of biopterin fractions and biogenic amine metabolites in aseptic meningitis. (J Child Neurol 1994;9:22-25).