AMYLOID β PROTEIN AND α 1-ANTICHYMOTRYPSIN IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AS POSSIBLE BIOCHEMICAL MARKERES FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Abstract

The levels of amyloid β protein (Aβ) and α1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were evaluated as diagnostic markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The total of 95 subjects included 38 patients with AD, 14 with early-onset AD and 24 with late-onset AD, 25 normal control subjects, and 32 patients with other neurological diseases. The ACT levels were also examined in CSF from 66 patients with AD, 27 with early-onset AD and 39 with late-onset AD, and 54 normal control subjects. The level of Ag in the CSF of early-onset AD patients (n=14, 4.14 ± 1.37 pmol/ml) was significantly higher than in the age-matched controls (n=12, 2.27 ± 1.44 pmol/ml) (p<0.01). The level of CSF ACT in the late-onset AD group (n = 22, 5. 92±4.88μg/ml) was higher than in the normal control group (n=24, 2.27±1.40μg/ml) (p <0. 01). In the study of ACT in the larger group of subjects, the ACT level in the CSF of late-onset AD group (n=38, 7.02±5.18, μg/ml) was significantly higher than in the normal control group (n=53, 2.81±1.39μg/ml) (p<0.001). Thus, it is concluded that Aβ levels in the CSF are elevated in early-onset AD patients, and that the CSF ACT levels are elevated in late-onset AD patients. Clinical evaluation referring to both markers should be useful for the clinical diagnosis of AD.