[Cerebrospinal fluid levels of beta-amyloid protein 1-42 in Alzhemier disease].
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of beta-amyloid protein 1-42 (A beta 1-42) content in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients.


METHODS
A beta 1-42 levels were measured with the ELISA method in AD (n = 30), non-AD (NAD, n = 25) and non-dementia (ND, n = 21).


RESULTS
The A beta 1-42 mean value for AD was (109.91 +/- 58.78) fmol.L-1. In ND, the A beta 1-42 mean value was (242.40 +/- 142.58) fmol.L-1. The mean value for AD was significantly lower than that of ND. In NAD, the A beta 1-42 mean value was (231.70 +/- 143.94) fmol.L-1, and it was not significantly different from the mean value for ND. The A beta 1-42 level was positively correlated with the severity of AD symptoms, but not with the duration. A beta 1-42 levels in CSF of AD were significantly lower than that of ND, and they decreased as the severity of disease increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid 1-42 analyses may be of value in the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, especially in the earlier course of the disease, when drug therapy may have the greatest effect but clinical diagnosis is particularly difficult.
Yi
Yu-xin
YX
Department of Geriatrics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Jian
Zai-jin
ZJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)