title: Rostrocaudal dynamics of CSF biomarkers.
abstract: The rostrocaudal gradient (RCG) of markers present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has not been studied adequately due to lack of appropriate control populations and ethical restrictions. The aim of this study is to understand the rostrocaudal gradient of CSF biomarkers. We contacted a study comparing CSF levels of seven biomarkers from cisternal (rostral) and lumbar (caudal) CSF obtained from patients with trigeminal neuralgia and tension-type headache. The RCGs of CSF/serum albumin ratio, 8-isoprostane. GFAP, total tau and beta amyloid protein were higher than one. The RCGs of lactate, VEGF and the heavy chain of neurofilament protein were lower than one. The study provides new values for several commonly examined markers of cisternal CSF. Knowledge of the RCG gradient of different CSF markers is important in interpreting studies reporting ventricular CSF values.
authors.affiliation: The Victor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Box 32, Queen Square, London, WC, 1N 3BG, UK. andrewtarnaris@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarnaris
authors.forename: Ahmed K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: Miles D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petzold
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keir
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.forename: Laurence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012015:Reference Standards; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers