Increased concentrations of aspartic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia: an effect of medication?

Abstract

The concentrations of free amino acids in the CSF were quantitated in 14 patients with epilepsy, 7 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, 10 patients with various neurological diseases and in 30 apparently healthy individuals. In the CSF of patients with epilepsy, the mean concentrations of aspartic acid (Asp), glutamine (Gln), histidine and phosphoserine were significantly higher than in the healthy individuals. The mean concentration of Asp was higher in the patients on antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy than in the patients without AED therapy. The patients and trigeminal neuralgia had significantly increased CSF concentrations of Asp, Gln and phosphoserine as compared to healthy individuals. Some patients receiving AED showed increased concentration of GABA.