Cerebrospinal fluid lipoperoxides quantified by liquid chromatography, and determination of reference values.

Cerebrospinal fluid lipoperoxides, measured as the malondialdehyde-thiobarbituric acid (MDA-TBA) adduct, were quantified by adapting the plasma liquid-chromatographic method of Wong et al. (Clin Chem 1987;33:214-20) to cerebrospinal fluid. Reference values for spinal fluid specimens from 91 adults, ages 17 to 95 y, and 37 children, ages 8 d to 8 y, were determined. Their concentrations were not significantly different (P = 0.222), adults having a mean (and SD) of 0.11 (0.06) mumol and children 0.10 (0.04) mumol of MDA per liter. Their ranges were 0.02-0.26 and 0.04-0.21 mumol of MDA per liter, respectively. We found concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid to be increased in several central nervous system disorders, including seizures, cerebral infarction, alcoholic encephalopathy, and, perhaps, prematurity. The presence of other thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in cerebrospinal fluid stresses the importance of using highly specific techniques when lipoperoxides are measured in body fluids.