Transthyretin as a potential CSF biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies: effects of treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have indicated that transthyretin (TTR) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are altered in depression and dementia. The present study aimed to investigate whether CSF TTR can be used to discriminate between patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with or without medication, as well as to reveal whether CSF TTR correlates with depression in dementia.


METHODS
CSF samples from 59 patients with AD, 13 patients with DLB and 13 healthy controls were collected, and biochemical analysis was performed. Subjects were assessed for the presence of depression.


RESULTS
No significant differences in CSF TTR were found between AD, DLB, and control subjects or between depressed and non-depressed dementia patients. Interestingly, we found a significant reduction in CSF TTR (14%) in AD patients who were medicated with cholinesterase inhibitors compared to those AD patients who were not.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant reductions in CSF TTR were found after cholinesterase inhibitor treatment in patients with AD compared to untreated individuals. CSF TTR was unaltered in patients with DLB and had no relationship to depression in the present cohort with dementias.
Schultz
K
K
Department of Experimental Medical Science, Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. kristofer.schultz@med.lu.se
Nilsson
K
K
Nielsen
J E
JE
Lindquist
S G
SG
Hjermind
L E
LE
Andersen
B B
BB
Wallin
A
A
Nilsson
C
C
Petersén
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011228:Prealbumin