Usability of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in a tertiary memory clinic.
OBJECTIVE
Assays for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of total tau, phospho-tau protein and beta-amyloid 1-42 have been available for some years. The aim of the study was to assess the usability of these biomarkers in a mixed population of tertiary dementia referral patients in a university-based memory clinic.


METHODS
147 consecutive patients with a lumbar puncture as a part of their clinical workup were studied. A retrospective diagnosis was established based on consensus criteria without the knowledge of the CSF results.


RESULTS
When diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to other diagnoses, the sensitivity of a single abnormal value was between 33 and 66%. The specificity was high except when discriminating AD from amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Two or more abnormal markers further increased the specificity and decreased the sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
In a tertiary setting, abnormal CSF biomarker results may be of a diagnostic value - whereas normal results do not exclude neurodegenerative disease.
Memory Clinic, Section 6702, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Camilla
C
Brandt
Justyna C
JC
Bahl
Niels H H
NH
Heegaard
Gunhild
G
Waldemar
Peter
P
Johannsen
D000328:Adult; 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; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D016875:tau Proteins