The assessment of beta amyloid, tau protein and cystatin C in the cerebrospinal fluid: laboratory markers of neurodegenerative diseases

Neurol Sci. 2009 Feb;30(1):1-7. doi: 10.1007/s10072-008-0005-7. Epub 2009 Jan 20.

Abstract

To assess the role of tau protein, beta-amyloid(1-42) and cystatin C in the diagnostics of Alzheimer dementia (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases (ND) by comparing to the control groups (CG). The levels of tau protein, beta-amyloid(1-42) and cystatin C were assessed in the set of 69 patients (AD + ND, 33 males, 36 females, aged 22-90, mean 60.5 + 16.1 years), and in a control group of 69 subjects without the affection of the central nervous system (CGAD + CGND, 33 males, 36 females, aged 20-91, mean 60.5 + 16.0 years). Statistically significant increased tau protein levels (P = 0.0001) and index tau/beta-amyloid(1-42) levels (P = 0.0002) were shown in the group of AD patients, compared to the group of ND patients. One-way ANOVA analysis with Bonferonni post hoc test did not show any significant differences of the cystatin C values between any of the compared groups. ROC analysis showed at least one tie between the positive actual state group (AD) and the negative actual state group (ND) by CSF cystatin C and at least one tie between the positive actual state group and the negative actual state group by CSF tau protein. Our study confirmed previously reported results only in part. While tau protein seems to be quite a reliable marker of AD, the role of beta-amyloid(1-42) and cystatin C in AD diagnosis remains at least questionable.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / analysis
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Cystatin C / analysis
  • Cystatin C / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Degeneration / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Nerve Degeneration / diagnosis
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis
  • Peptide Fragments / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Up-Regulation / physiology
  • Young Adult
  • tau Proteins / analysis
  • tau Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • Cystatin C
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • tau Proteins