A controlled study of reverse transcriptase in serum and CSF of HIV-negative patients with ALS.
Reverse transcriptase has been detected in the serum of HIV-negative patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An ALS-like disorder in HIV-positive patients can remit with antiretroviral therapy. Using the product enhanced assay technique, we measured reverse transcriptase activity in the serum and CSF of 23 HIV-negative patients with ALS and 21 neurologic disease controls. Results for CSF were not significant, whereas reverse transcriptase was detected in 56% of ALS sera vs 19% of controls.
MacGowan
D J L
DJ
ALS Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. dmacgow@bethisraelny.org
Scelsa
S N
SN
Imperato
T E
TE
Liu
K-N
KN
Baron
P
P
Polsky
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D019469:Indinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D019469:Indinavir; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase