Central nervous system catecholamine metabolism in Korsakoff's psychosis.

We attempted to replicate previous reports of impaired central noradrenergic activity in patients with Korsakoff's psychosis. No differences were demonstrated in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of norepinephrine or its major metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG), or in the contribution of plasma to cerebrospinal fluid free MHPG in 6 patients with clinically well characterized Korsakoff's psychosis and 8 age-matched healthy, normal volunteers. Likewise, cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of the major metabolites of dopamine (homovanillic acid) and serotonin (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) were the same in patients and controls.