Elevated alpha 1-antichymotrypsin serum levels in a subset of nondemented first-degree relatives of Alzheimer's disease patients.
A portion of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have elevated serum levels of the acute phase reactant alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (A1ACT) compared to age-matched controls. We measured serum levels of A1ACT in AD patients, age-matched controls, Down's syndrome patients, and nondemented first-degree relatives of AD patients. Significantly elevated levels of A1ACT were found in both AD patients and first-degree-relatives. In AD patients, serum A1ACT concentrations decreased with increasing severity of cognitive impairment. These results may suggest that inflammatory phenomena may be an early component of AD pathophysiology.
Altstiel
L D
LD
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, N.Y. 10029, USA.
Lawlor
B
B
Mohs
R
R
Schmeidler
J
J
Dalton
A
A
Mehta
P
P
Davis
K
K
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000097:blood*
D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin