Polyols in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of neurological, diabetic and uraemic patients.

Five polyols, arabinitol, anhydroglucitol, mannitol, sorbitol and myoinositol, normally present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), were studied. Quantitative gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of 211 CSF and 112 plasma samples indicated significantly altered concentrations in several clinical conditions. All five polyols were decreased in the CSF of patients suffering from meningitis, cerebral atrophy, sepsis, and in patients receiving intrathecal cytostate therapy. Equilibration between plasma and CSF may explain the changes in sepsis and meningitis, while decreased total number of functioning cells may cause the decrease in cerebral atrophy. Intrathecal cytostates seem to have a destroying effect on the cell metabolism of the central nervous system. Renal failure causes accumulation of polyols in the plasma. Alterations in the metabolism of sorbitol, myoinositol and anhydroglucitol seem to be present in diabetes. The plasma concentration of anhydroglucitol is decreased in renal failure.