Plasma neuronal specific enolase: a potential stage diagnostic marker in human African trypanosomiasis.
BACKGROUND
This study was carried out to determine the potential of neuronal specific enolase (NSE) as a stage diagnostic marker in human African trypanosomiasis.


METHODS
Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained from a cohort of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense-infected patients and non-infected controls. Neuronal specific enolase concentrations were measured by ELISA and analysed in relation to diagnosis and disease-stage data.


RESULTS
Plasma NSE concentration was significantly increased in late-stage patients (median 21 ng/ml), compared to the control (median 11 ng/ml), but not in early-stage patients (median 5.3 ng/ml). Cerebrospinal fluid NSE concentration did not vary between stages.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma NSE is a potential stage diagnostic in this cohort and merits further investigation.
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University Of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK j.sternberg@abdn.ac.uk.
Jeremy M
JM
Sternberg
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University Of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK.
Julia A
JA
Mitchell
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
African trypanosomiasis; Neuronal specific enolase; Stage