title: Tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid: a possible marker of poor outcome in patients with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: We analyzed the prognostic value of Tau protein, a marker of axonal damage, detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). We sampled the CSF from 32 patients with probable or definite RRMS, having had the disease for less than 5 years. We studied the relationship between Tau protein concentration in the CSF (CSF-TAU) and disability, time to next relapse and time to experience a one point increase on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). CSF-TAU was correlated with the Progression Index at the end of follow-up. Patients with higher CSF-TAU experienced a more rapid one point increase in the EDSS. CSF-TAU was the only independent variable to predict the time to next relapse. CSF-TAU, as a marker of axonal loss, may help us to predict short-term outcome in patients with early RRMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital de Viladecans, Av. Gava 380 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain. h551uamy@hv.scs.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Yélamos
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saiz
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bas
authors.forename: Juan Jose
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graus
authors.forename: Txomin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arbizu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016875:tau Proteins