Laboratory Markers of Neurodegneration in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Degree of Motor Involvement in Parkinson Disease: A Correlation Study

Czech version

Authors: H. Vranová ¹; P. Kaňovský ¹; J. Mareš ¹; M. Nevrlý ¹; D. Stejskal ^2,3; I. Nestrašil ¹; J. Zapletalová ⁴
Authors‘ workplace: Neurologická klinika LF UP a FN Olomouc ¹; Oddělení laboratorní medicíny, Nemocnice Šternberk o. z., Středomoravská nemocniční a. s. ²; Ústav lékařské chemie a biochemie LF UP Olomouc ³; Ústav lékařské biofyziky LF UP Olomouc ⁴
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2008; 71/104(3): 324-328
Category: Short Communication

Overview

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive degenerative illness of the nervous system. Patients with this illness undergo a progress of neurological degeneration leading to morphological and neurochemical changes in the central nervous system. The Braak concept divides this pathology into six stages which are correlated with clinical assessment using the Hoehn-Yahr scale. The severity of neurodegeneration is known to correlate with certain laboratory indicators in CSF. The aim of this study was to assess tau-protein, beta-amyloid_(1–42) and cystatin C CSF levels in patients suffering from PD and in the control group and to compare CSF levels between these two groups and correlate to both the duration and severity of motor impairment in PD. Tau-protein, beta-amyloid_(1–42) and cystatin C in CSF were assessed and the tau-protein/beta-amyloid_(1–42) ratio was calculated in 32 patients suffering from PD and in a control group (CG) of 20 patients. The following statistically significant differences in the CSF were found: higher tau-protein levels in PD patients versus CG (p = 0.05), higher tau-protein levels (p = 0.03) and tau-protein/beta-amyloid_(1–42) ratio (p = 0.01) in PD patients with duration less than 2 years vs. PD with duration more than 2 years. No significant correlation was found between the tau-protein CSF levels and the severity of motor manifestation of PD. No difference in levels of beta-amyloid_(1–42) and cystatin C in CSF was found in the CG and PD patients groups. Presented study indicates an important role for the tau-protein CSF level evaluation as a marker of neurodegeneration in PD patients, especially within the first two years of the appearance of clinical symptoms.

Key words:
Parkinson disease – tau-protein – beta-amyloid – cystatin C – CSF

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