Release of homovanillic acid from the brain of children.

Cerebral arterio-venous differences of homovanillic acid (HVA) and cerebral blood flow were measured in 24 patients, 6 adults and 18 children, anaesthetized by different techniques. A statistically significant release of HVA from the brain (p < 0.001) was demonstrated in five children anaesthetized by barbiturate, nitrous oxide and droperidol/fentanyl. The release rate was 509 pmoles HVA/100 g brain tissue/minute - corresponding to approximately 1.3 mg HVA/24 hours from the whole brain.