title: Flt3 ligand does not differentiate between Parkinsonian disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differential diagnosis of parkinsonian disorders is challenging because of overlapping symptoms, especially during early stages of disease. No validated biomarkers are available for early and accurate diagnosis of multiple system atrophy and other parkinsonian disorders. It has been reported that flt3 ligand levels in cerebrospinal fluid could clearly differentiate patients with Parkinson's disease from patients with multiple system atrophy, with 99% sensitivity and 95% specificity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured flt3 ligand levels in cerebrospinal fluid of subjects with Parkinson's disease (n = 37), multiple system atrophy (n = 30), and progressive supranuclear palsy (n = 19).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our cohort, no significant difference was found in flt3 ligand levels between Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that cerebrospinal fluid flt3 ligand levels do not differentiate between parkinsonian disorders.
authors.affiliation: Brain Disease Biomarker Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Edina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silajdžić
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Constantinescu
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björkqvist
authors.forename: Oskar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084881:flt3 ligand protein
keywords: Parkinson's disease; biomarker; flt3 ligand; multiple system atrophy; progressive supranuclear palsy