Abstract
Xanthine, hypoxanthine, and total oxypurine levels were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid of 18 hydrocephalic patients and 8 healthy controls by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Eight of the hydrocephalic patients were self-compensated and 10 had shunts implanted during the course of the study. The mean xanthine, hypoxanthine, and total oxypurine levels in the normal children were 5.20, 5.94 and 11.29 μmol/l, respectively. In self-compensated hydrocephalics these levels were respectively 6.06, 6.50 and 12.57 μmol/l. In noncompensated hydrocephalics, they were 11.40, 10.79 and 22.19 μmol/l. The differences between the latter group and the first two are statistically significant (P<0.001). Fifteen days after implantation of shunts in the noncompensated hydrocephalics, the mean xanthine levels had fallen to 4.61 μmol/l, the mean hypoxanthine levels to 5.03 μmol/l, and the mean total oxypurine levels to 9.64 μmol/l. The change is statistically significant (P<0.001). In light of these findings we propose that xanthine, hypoxanthine, and total oxypurine levels be used in cases of hydrocephalus as guides for therapeutic action and to monitor progress.
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Castro-Gago, M., Lojo, S., Del Rio, R. et al. The concentrations of xanthine and hypoxanthine in cerebrospinal fluid as therapeutic guides in hydrocephalus. Child's Nerv Syst 2, 109–111 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270835
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270835