Clinical Chemistry, Vol 20, 642-644, Copyright © 1974 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Improved Assay for Spinal Fluid Glutamine, and Values for Children with Reye's Syndrome

¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, Box 2741, 4200 E. 9th Ave., Denver, Colo. 80220
² Khon Kaen Provincial Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

We describe a simple assay for spinal fluid glutamine, in which glutaminase is used to deaminate glutamine and the liberated ammonia is then measured with phenol hypochlorite. The concentration of glutamine in spinal fluid is increased in coma of hepatic origin. Spinal fluid glutamine was increased above normal at the time of admission in 20 of 27 cases of Reye's syndrome, of which hepatic dysfunction is apparently a feature. There was no correlation between the initial concentration of glutamine in spinal fluid and the ultimate outcome in these patients.

Submitted on January 25, 1974
Accepted on March 25, 1974