Abnormal glutamic acid metabolism in multiple sclerosis.

We have found extensive amino acid abnormalities in multiple sclerosis sera. The most consistent abnormality is an elevation in serum glutamate, which is most striking during relapses. The increase in glutamate in the patients does not occur sharply during the onset of the relapse. Instead it appears to rise gradually within a month or two prior to the onset of the clinical relapse, to reach a peak during the relapse and then to slowly decline.