title: Is cerebrospinal fluid obtained for diagnostic purpose a good material for biomarker studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
abstract: The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) used for identification of molecular biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is mainly obtained from lumbar puncture (LP) performed to exclude other causes of motor neuron damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to analyze whether CSF of ALS patients obtained for diagnostic purposes is suitable for biomarker studies in the entire ALS population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the medical data, LP frequency and CSF parameters in 568 ALS patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LP was performed in 34% of cases. Patients who underwent LP were significantly younger and more frequently presented limb onset ALS, there were no differences in the clinical phenotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSF obtained for diagnostic purposes can be used for biomarkers studies in ALS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chełstowska
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuźma-Kozakiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins
keywords: Cerebrospinal fluid; motor neuron disease; neurological disease