Hepatic encephalopathy: Lack of changes of γ-aminobutyric acid content in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The aim of the study was to verify the role of γ-aminobutyric acid in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy occurring in cirrhotic patients by attempting to correlate plasma and cerebrospinal fluid content of authentic γ-aminobutyric acid with the neurological manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy. For this purpose, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid γ-aminobutyric acid levels were measured by means of mass fragmentography in 17 cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy and in 6 cirrhotics without neurological symtoms. Moreover, in all patients, a second sample was obtained during the clinical course of hepatic encephalopathy. The mean plasma and cerebrospinal fluid γ-aminobutyric acid levels were not different in patients with or without hepatic encephalopathy and did not change during the evolution of the neurological symptoms. The lack of changes in the γ-aminobutyric acid content in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid during hepatic encephalopathy is in contrast with the hypothesized importance of increased entry into the brain of γ-aminobutyric acid in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.