Catecholamine metabolites in amniotic fluid from fetuses with neural tube defects |
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| Authors: | H Lagercrantz B Sjöquist |
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| Institution: | Department of Physiology and Pediatrics, Karolinska Hospital, Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Research, Karolinska Institutet, S-104 01 Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Catecholamine metabolites were analysed in amniotic fluid from fetuses with neural tube defects and controls. HMPG (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-glycol) assumed to originate mainly from the central nervous system and VMA (4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid) formed in the peripheral nervous system were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The HMPG/VMA ratio was increased (more than 2 SD) compared with controls in ten out of fifteen cases of neural tube defects. |
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| Keywords: | Fetal neural tube defects Amniotic catecholamine metabolites |
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