title: Experiences with cerebrospinal fluid analysis in Dutch memory clinics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis to demonstrate Alzheimer's disease has not yet been implemented in diagnostic guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the use of CSF analysis in a survey amongst all known memory clinics in the Netherlands, of which 85 of 113 (75.2%) responded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty per cent of respondents used CSF analysis in 5% (median) of patients. The analysis almost always confirmed the working diagnosis in 68.4% and sometimes changed it in 28.2%. Complications occurred very infrequently (0%, median) and were mild. Reasons not to perform CSF analysis included the lack of clear recommendations in diagnostic guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results ask for a guideline update to clarify the use of CSF analysis as an add-on diagnostic method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. p.spies@ger.umcn.nl
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Spies
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slats
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramakers
authors.forename: F R J
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Verhey
authors.forename: M G M
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Olde Rikkert
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers