Increased monoamine metabolite concentrations and cholinesterase activities in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acute stroke

Abstract

Twenty‐one patients with acute brain infarction, 8 with transient ischemic attack and 20 controls were investigated for lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites and cholinesterases. The diseased patients were lumbar punctured on 2 occasions, mean Days 1 (0–3) and 5 (3–9) after debut of symptoms. Monoamine concentrations were determined by reverse phase liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and the cholinergic enzymes were measured photometrically. Increased concentrations of 3‐methoxytyramine (3‐MT), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HI‐AA) and increased activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid was found in patients with acute brain infarction when compared to control values, while the levels of 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were not altered. No change of any neurotransmitter metabolite concentration/enzyme activity were found between Day 1 and Day 5 in the diseased patients. These data suggest an increased release of these neurotransmitter markers from necrotic brain areas into the cerebrospinal fluid and/or altered barriers between blood, brain and CSF and/or a dysfunction of the arachnoid villi to clear substances from the CSF. We therefore concluded that CSF neurotransmitters may be useful as specific brain markers in acute stroke.