Developmental aspects of cerebrospinal fluid levels of beta-phenylethylamine and it's role in pediatric neurological disorders.

To clarify the role of beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) in pediatric neurological disorders, we have measured the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of PEA in 12 children with aseptic meningitis--6 were in the acute phase and the other 6 were in the recovery phase--and 5 children with Rett Syndrome (RS). The findings were compared with those obtained from 13 age-matched children with leukemia as child controls and from 10 adults patients without any neurological symptoms and signs as control. In the control group, the CSF PEA level was negatively correlated with age until 200 months (17 years) old. The mean PEA levels in meningitis and RS were significantly lower than that of child controls (p < 0.03). The alteration in the CSF levels of PEA may be related to transient changes in the dopaminergic tone in aseptic meningitis and neurological impairment, especially in the dopaminergic neurons in RS.