i(3)so3-galactosylceramide and Intracranial-Hypertension

BACKGROUND - To evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers for neuronal degeneration and demyelination in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH), subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (SAE), and neurologically healthy subjects. METHODS - Lumbar CSF concentrations of sulfatide, neurofilament protein light (NFL), total-tau (T-tau), hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau), and beta-amyloid(1-42) (Abeta42) were analyzed in 62 INPH patients, 26 SAE patients, and 23 neurologically healthy controls. In INPH patients, samples before and after shunt surgery were analysed. RESULTS - The CSF concentration of NFL was elevated in INPH and SAE compared with the controls, and levels of T-tau, P-tau, and Abeta42 were lower in INPH compared with SAE and controls. No difference was seen for sulfatide. All markers except Abeta42 were significantly elevated after shunt surgery. CONCLUSIONS - The most striking finding was the power of the combined pattern of NFL, P-tau, and Abeta42 in distinguishing between the clinical diagnoses of INPH, SAE, and neurologically healthy elderly.

Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Biomarkers; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure; Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Intracranial Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Degeneration; Neurofilament Proteins; Peptide Fragments; Predictive Value of Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sulfoglycosphingolipids; tau Proteins; Up-Regulation