Elevated cerebrospinal fluid kynurenic acid levels in patients with tick‐borne encephalitis

Abstract

This is the first study to demonstrate increased levels of CSF KYNA in patients with TBE. The importance of brain KYNA in both immune modulation and neurotransmission raises the possibility that abnormal levels of the compound in TBE might play a part in the pathophysiology of the disease. A detailed knowledge of endogenous brain KYNA during the course of CNS infection might yield further insights into the neuroimmunological role of the compound and may also provide new pharmacological approaches for the treatment of cognitive symptoms.