Elevated CSF <i>N</i> -acetylaspartylglutamate in patients with free sialic acid storage diseases

Abstract

In patients with undiagnosed leukodystrophies, increased free sialic acid in CSF or urine is a marker for free sialic acid storage disorder and facilitates the identification of the underlying genetic defect. Because increase of N-acetylaspartylglutamate in CSF has been observed in other hypomyelinating disorders, it can be viewed as a marker of a subgroup of hypomyelinating disorders.