Phosphorylated tau as a candidate biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

An increasingly varied clinical spectrum of cases with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been identified, and objective criteria for clinical trial eligibility are necessary.

Objective

To develop a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of ALS.

Design, setting, and participants

A case-control study including 51 individuals with ALS and 23 individuals with a disorder associated with a 4-repeat tauopathy was conducted at an academic medical center.

Main outcomes and measures

The CSF level of tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (ptau) and ratio of ptau to total tau (ttau).

Results

Using a cross-validation prediction procedure, we found significantly reduced CSF levels of ptau and the ptau:ttau ratio in

SUBMITTER: Grossman M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3989393 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature