Studying the Excitotoxic Amino Acids Impact on the Degree of Impairment of Consciousness in Purulent Meningitises in Children

Abstract

The study revealed a strong and significant inverse correlation between the level of excitatory neurotransmitter amino acid of glutamate, aspartate in the blood serum and level of consciousness according to Glasgow Coma Scale. When the concentration of glutamate and aspartate increase, levels of consciousness on Glasgow Coma Scale was significantly reduced, indicating a significant effect of excitotoxic amino acids on the development of cognitive disorders in children with purulent meningitis. There were also found a strong direct correlation between the concentrations of glutamate and aspartate. In increase of glutamate concentration, aspartate concentration in in blood serum increases too, indicating a significant mutual influence of these mediators on the concentration of each other, mutually potentiating effects on the degree of impairment of consciousness is possible in children with purulent meningitis.

Keywords

• meningitis
• glutamate
• aspartate
• impairment of consciousness