Amino acid profile of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in preeclampsia.

Objectives: To determine patterns in amino acids (arginine, GABA, glutamate and glutamine) and the diamine (agmatine) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of mild and severe preeclampsia compared to control patients, using capillary zone electrophoresis to generate methods for refining diagnosis and prognosis and shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms of preeclampsia.

Study Design: This is an observational case-control study in pregnant women that attended the emergency ward of the University Hospital, Mérida, Venezuela, during the period April, 2009-April 2010.

Main Outcome Measures: Molar concentration of amino acids and diamine in plasma and CSF in control, mild and severe preeclampsia patients.