title: Glial fibrillary acidic protein as a marker of axonal damage in chronic neuropathies.
abstract: We evaluated serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in controls (n = 30) and in patients with chronic sensory-motor axonal neuropathy (CSMAN) (n = 30), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) (n = 30), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) (n = 30), and primary muscular spinal atrophy (PMSA) (n = 15). GFAP levels, expressed as optical density, were increased in CSMAN (median = 1.05) compared to controls (median = 0.41; P < 0.05) and CIDP (median = 0.53, P < 0.05). They were also increased in PMSA (median = 0.99) compared to controls (P < 0.05) and MMN (median = 0.66; P < 0.05). To differentiate CSMAN from CIDP and PMSA from MMN, we applied a cutoff of GFAP levels at 0.66, and we obtained good sensitivity and specificity. In neuropathies, serum GFAP correlated with summated sensory nerve action potential amplitudes (r = -0.57; P = 0.0006) and disease severity (r = 0.37; P = 0.0011). Thus, we propose serum GFAP as a marker of axonal damage and severity in chronic neuropathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Motor Sciences and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, University "G. d'Annunzio" and Institute of Aging (Ce.S.I.), Foundation University "G. d'Annunzio," via dei Vestini, 66013, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Notturno
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeLauretis
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carpo
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uncini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000097:blood*; D015417:Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020277:Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012372:ROC Curve; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein