Cerebrospinal fluid lactate and glutamine are reduced in multiple sclerosis

Objectives - To analyse various metabolites in human cerebrospinal fluid from healthy controls and patients with multiple sclerosis. Patients and methods - Cerebrospinal fluid was obtained from patients by lumbar puncture, frozen, redissolved, and analysed for metabolites by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results - Significantly lower values for lactate and glutamine were found in patients with multiple sclerosis in comparison with controls. No significant differences were found between patients with the relapsing-remitting and chronic progressive forms of the disease for any of the metabolites measured. Conclusion - There is a concomitant reduction in both lactate and glutamine in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis compared to controls. This may be related to altered astrocytic metabolism during the disease. The results clearly show the diagnostic potential of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in diseases such as multiple sclerosis.