Retinol-Binding Protein and Retinol Analysis in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Patients With and Without Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.
Warner, Judith E. A MD; Larson, Alexander J BA; Bhosale, Prakash PhD; Digre, Kathleen B MD; Henley, Courtney MD; Alder, Stephen C PhD; Katz, Bradley J MD, PhD; Bernstein, Paul S MD, PhD
[Article] Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. 27(4):258-262, December 2007.

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Background: Several studies have implicated vitamin A-related compounds in the pathogenesis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The goal of this study was to compare cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum concentrations of retinol and retinol-binding protein (RBP) in subjects with and without IIH.

Methods: CSF and serum samples were collected from 87 subjects. The study population was composed of subjects with IIH (IIH group, n = 28), subjects with non-IIH neurologic conditions (neurology controls, n = 42), and subjects undergoing preoperative lumbar puncture but with no known neurologic conditions (anesthesia controls, n = 17). RBP levels (nM) were determined using radial immunodiffusion, and retinol levels (nM) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results: The retinol/RBP ratio was greater in CSF than in serum, especially in subjects with IIH.

Conclusions: The finding of increased levels of unbound retinol in the CSF of subjects with IIH provides further evidence that vitamin A may be involved in the pathogenesis of IIH. Comparative statistical analyses revealed multivariate relationships that demonstrate the need to further investigate correlations between vitamin A and RBP levels in CSF and serum.

(C) 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.