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Usability of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in a tertiary memory clinic

Camilla Brandt, Justyna C Bahl, Niels H H Heegaard, Gunhild Waldemar, Peter Johannsen

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

AIM: Assays for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of total tau, phospho-tau protein and beta-amyloid 1-42 have been available for some years. The aim of the study was to assess the usability of these biomarkers in a mixed population of tertiary dementia referral patients in a university-based memory clinic.

METHODS: 147 consecutive patients with a lumbar puncture as a part of their clinical workup were studied. A retrospective diagnosis was established based on consensus criteria without the knowledge of the CSF results.

RESULTS: When diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to other diagnoses, the sensitivity of a single abnormal value was between 33 and 66%. The specificity was high except when discriminating AD from amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Two or more abnormal markers further increased the specificity and decreased the sensitivity.

CONCLUSION: In a tertiary setting, abnormal CSF biomarker results may be of a diagnostic value - whereas normal results do not exclude neurodegenerative disease.

Original languageEnglish
JournalDementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
Volume25
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)553-8
Number of pages6
ISSN1420-8008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease/cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides/cerebrospinal fluid
  • Biomarkers/cerebrospinal fluid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders/cerebrospinal fluid
  • Middle Aged
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
  • Peptide Fragments/cerebrospinal fluid
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • tau Proteins/cerebrospinal fluid

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