Monoamine metabolites and ventricular fluid pressure in children.

Samples of ventricular CSF were obtained from 20 children in whom ventricular fluid pressure was continuously monitored. The concentrations of the monoamine metabolites, 5-hydroxyindolylacetic acid, homovanillic acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, in the CSF were not related to the ventricular fluid pressure. The mean concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol was higher (p less than 0.01) in 9 children aged 1 day to 6 months that in 12 children aged 8 months to 11 years.