title: CSF-tau, CSF-Abeta1-42, ApoE-genotype and clinical parameters in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: combination of CSF-tau and MMSE yields highest sensitivity and specificity.
abstract: This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tau-protein, amyloid-beta-peptide 1-42 (Abeta1-42), ApoE-genotype and the degree of cognitive decline as diagnostic markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Data was obtained from 105 AD patients and 68 controls. Median CSF-tau levels were increased (512 pg/ml vs. 145 pg/ml, p<0.001) and Abeta1-42-levels were decreased (238.5 pg/ml vs. 310 pg/ml, p<0.001) in AD patients compared to controls. A weak correlation was found between CSF-Abeta1-42 and MMSE score (r=.245). Within all subjects, a correlation of CSF-Abeta1-42 (r=-.337) and CSF-tau (r=.384) with age was found. The combination of CSF-tau levels and MMSE revealed the highest sensitivity (92%) and specificity (87%). In summary, CSF-tau was a useful biological marker to discriminate AD from normal aging, neurological and psychiatric disorders. CSF-Abeta1-42 showed no additional benefit in discriminating patients from controls but might be useful for tracking the severity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganzer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arlt
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schoder
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buhmann
authors.forename: E-M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mandelkow
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Finckh
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Beisiegel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naber
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Müller-Thomsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D016875:tau Proteins