PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P A Sullivan
AU  - D Murnaghan
AU  - N Callaghan
AU  - B D Kantamaneni
AU  - G Curzon
TI  - Cerebral transmitter precursors and metabolites in advanced renal disease.
AID  - 10.1136/jnnp.41.7.581
DP  - 1978 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
PG  - 581--588
VI  - 41
IP  - 7
4099  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/41/7/581.short
4100  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/41/7/581.full
SO  - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry1978 Jul 01; 41
AB  - Patients with chronic renal disease had low plasma total tryptophan but an abnormally high proportion of this was in the free state. The subjects with encephalopathy had raised plasma free tryptophan, CSF tryptophan, and CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. CSF tryptophan correlated better with plasma free than with plasma total tryptophan. Plasma and CSF tyrosine concentrations were normal but CSF homovanillic acid was raised especially in subjects with encephalopathy. The possible significance of these changes in advanced renal disease is discussed.