Plasma amino acids percentages in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

The aim of the study was to examine plasma amino acids (AA) percentages in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Altered metabolism of AA, especially excitatory AA in ALS, has been reported. The investigation was conducted at the Department of Neurology, University School of Medicine in Lublin. The study comprised 50 patients; 20 persons with ALS and 30 controls. Plasma AA were measured by automated ion-exchange chromatography. The results show significantly lower percentages of plasma tyrosine, valine, methionine, leucine, and isoleucine and significantly higher percentages of plasma glutamine and serine in ALS than in controls. The clinical state significantly influenced the percentage of plasma phenylalanine and alanine. Our study shows significant changes in some plasma AA percentages in ALS; however, excitatory AA percentages did not differ from the control subjects.