Diagnostic challenges of using CSF assay of tau and beta-amyloid42 in atypical degenerative dementias of the Alzheimer type

This report presents three cases of atypical degenerative dementias in order to illustrate challenges associated with the use of biologic markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) for diagnosis and management. Clinical diagnostic methods followed the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for AD. Additional diagnostic studies included serial neurocognitive testing, MRI, neuroSPECT, ApoE genotyping, and a CSF assay of tau and beta-amyloid(42). For patient 1, both the clinical and biologic markers were consistent with AD. The patient was diagnosed with AD with a high degree of confidence, even though the base rate of nonfamilial AD at this age group (<55 years) is exceedingly rare. This case argues favorably for the use of biologic markers to aid in confirming a diagnosis in an atypical dementia. Patient 2 met the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for AD, although with less confidence. Neurocognitive data indicated a progressive right hemispheric syndrome, insight was preserved, and ApoE was 3/3, but tau concentrations and beta-amyloid(42) were highly consistent with cut-offs for AD; the differential fell on the Pick's disease/frontotemporal degeneration spectrum. Patient 3 had no clinical evidence of the disease, even when evaluated via extensive neurocognitive testing over a 2-year interval. However, ApoE was 4/4, and CSF assay of tau and beta-amyloid(42) were within the AD range. Therefore, while the CSF assay of tau and beta-amyloid(42) markers was confirmatory of AD, each case was highly atypical. Results illustrate the lack of normative data available when using biologic markers for highly atypical cases, calling into question their usefulness for such patients. These cases illustrate the interplay between neuropsychological and biological markers in establishing neurodegenerative diagnoses.     

Increase of predominantly k-type light chains in the CSF of a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis treated with interferon

The results of a study of the CSF protein pattern in a case of SSPE treated with interferon are reported. An increase in the IgG, IgG index and CNS IgG synthesis values was found during and after the period of treatment. The electrophoretic and IEF patterns show a predominant increase in the L-chain bands, principally k-type, which are anti-measles antibodies. It is suggested that interferon could stimulate some cell clones to synthesize a particular type of L-chains.

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Sommario Sono riportati i risultati dello studio delle proteine del liquor cefalo-rachidiano in un caso di Panencefalite Sclerosante Subacuta trattato con interferon. È evidenziato un aumento dei valori di IgG, IgG index e delle IgG sintetizzate nel S.N.C. nelle 24 ore durante il periodo di trattamento. I quadri elettroforetico e dell'isoelectrofocusing dimostrano un aumento prevalente delle catene leggere delle IgG di tipo k che sono anticorpi anti-morbillo. È avanzata l'ipotesi che l'interferon possa aver stimolato la sintesi di un particolare tipo di catene leggere da parte di qualche clone cellulare.

     

A contribution to the pathogenesis of respiratory disturbances associated with subarachnoid haemorrhage; an experimental approach using an animal model

Summary The present experimental work focuses on the mechanisms involved in respiratory distress observed in the course of subarachnoid haemorrhage. For this purpose, respiratory disturbances were induced in rabbits by injecting fresh autologous blood into the subarachnoid space. For six hours after this artificially induced SAH, blood PO₂ and PCO₂ as well as expiratory air CO₂ were regularly determined, while during the same period cerebral blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid pressure measurements were recorded.The results of this study suggest that pressure effects acting the brain structures that support respiration are principally involved in the pathogenesis of respiratory disturbances following SAH. A decrease in CBF and hypoxia with hypercapnia play a contributing secondary role adding to a vicious cycle phenomenon.     

Increased concentration of hypoxanthine in human central cerebrospinal fluid after subarachnoid haemorrhage

Summary The adenine nucleotide metabolites hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid were determined by high performance liquid chromatography in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 25 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and from 26 control subjects. In addition, the haemoglobin and protein levels in the CSF of the patients were determined.In 13 subjects, from which lumbar CSF was collected three, six and nine days after SAH, there was a gradual increase in 8 patients for hypoxanthine and in 3 of the 13 patients for xanthine and uric acid. The mean concentrations were not significantly higher than the controls. In 12 SAH patients, consecutive CSF fractions of 10 ml were collected peroperatively during surgical clipping of aneurysms. The hypoxanthine concentrations increased continously from lumbar to central CSF samples. Hypoxanthine levels were 6.5±1.0 M in lumbar CSF compared to 11.8±2.3 M in central CSF (p<0.001), while xanthine, uric acid, haemoglobin and protein levels were equally distributed. Furthermore, the SAH patients showed about 3 times higher concentrations of central CSF hypoxanthine (p<0.01) and xanthine (p<0.05) while that for uric acid was similar compared to all control subjects. Also, an in vitro study showed that the increased concentrations of the adenine nucleotide metabolites could not be caused by degradation of blood components in the subarachnoid space.It is presumed that the increased central CSF concentrations of hypoxanthine that were demonstrated in patients after SAH could be a sensitive marker for brain tissue ischaemia. However, since there was no correlation between the hypoxanthine levels, clinical condition or cerebral vascular diameter, other factors have to be excluded before ischaemia alone could explain the elevated central hypoxanthine levels in patients without major clinical dysfunction after SAH.This study was supported by grants from Karolinska Institutet, the Swedish National Society against Heart and Chest disease, The Swedish Society of Medical Sciences, Wibergs Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim and the Swedish Medical Research Council (proj. no. 7485).     

Parallel Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Cerebrospinal Fluid with 16S rRNA Probe Microarray

The most commonly used method for detection ofpathogenic bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) speci mens of clinical laboratories is isolation and identificationof the causative agents by cultural method, biochemicaland serological t…     

Intrathecal IgM response in disseminated cerebrospinal metastasis from malignant melanoma

Summary Neurological complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with disseminated malignant melanoma. We have studied and correlated clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in 20 patients with central nervous system metastases from malignant melanoma including 8 patients with metastatic meningeal melanomatosis (MMM) and 12 patients with solid cerebral metastases (SCM). The putative CSF tumor markers, fibronectin and ₂-microglobulin, were elevated significantly in MMM but not in SCM patients. A prominent increase in the IgM index, which reflects intrathecal B-cell stimulation, and a rise of IgG index, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor- in MMM patients provide preliminary evidence for a local intrathecal immune response triggered by melanoma cell invasion of the subarachnoid space.     

急性淋巴细胞白血病患者脑脊液中白血病淋巴细胞的立体形态特征观察

目的：观察脑脊液中白血病淋巴细胞及鞘注治疗后细胞的立体形态特征。方法：采用激光扫描共聚焦显微术对15例争性淋细胞性白血病患者脑脊液中550个白血病淋巴细胞和鞘注治疗后脑脊液中380个白血病淋巴细胞进行断层扫描和三维立体成像观察,并与正常脑脊液中淋巴细胞进行对比。结果：脑脊液中白血病淋巴细胞的胞体明显增大,核完整,呈桔黄色荧光,胞质呈火红荧光。鞘内注射治疗后脑脊液中白血病淋巴细胞胞体缩小,不规则,胞核不完整,有断裂、缺损。而正常淋巴细胞胞体较小,呈圆形,核比例大,胞浆量少,核呈绿色荧光,胞质呈弱绿色荧光。结论：LSCM可为CNLL诊断、鉴别诊断以及化疗药物的筛选、疗效评价、预后判断提供可靠的实验室依据。     

急性淋巴细胞白血病患者脑脊液中白血病淋巴细胞内DNA、RNA的定量分析

目的：观察脑脊液白血病淋巴细胞脑鞘注治疗前后细胞内DNA、RNA相对含量的变化。方法：采用激光扫描共聚焦显微术（LSCM）对15例急性淋巴细胞性白血病患者脑脊液中550个白血病淋巴细胞和鞘注治疗后脑脊液中380个白血病淋巴细胞内DNA、RNA相对含量进行定量检测,同时用荧光强度地形分布图像表示,并与正常脑脊液中小淋巴细胞内DNA、RNA相对含量进行对比。结果：脑脊液白血病巴细胞内DNA、RNA相对含量显著高于正常对照（P＜0．01）;鞘注治疗后细胞内DNA、RNA相对含量明显低于治疗前（P＜0．01）。且三者DNA、RNA荧光强度地形分布立体图像也存在着显著的判别;治疗前似圆柱菜,其顶部显强白色荧光,连成一片,完整无损,治疗后呈锯齿状,顶部显白色荧光,较治疗前弱,山峰较多,分散,连连;对照组似圆锥形,顶部显白荧光。结论：利用LSCM对脑脊液白血病淋巴细胞内DNARNA相对含量的定量分析可为CNLL诊断,鉴别诊断以及化疗药物的筛选、疗效评价,预后判断提供可靠的实验室依据。     

检测病毒性脑炎患儿脑脊液中单纯疱疹病毒IgM抗体的临床应用

为探讨单纯疱疹病毒脑炎的早期诊断方法 ,用 EL ISA法检测 10 5例小儿病毒性脑炎脑脊液 (CSF)中特异性单纯疱疹病毒 Ig M抗体 ,为对比同时也检测了该组病毒特异性 Ig G抗体 ,并与血清相应抗体结果比较。其中 13例阳性 ,占 12 .4%。结果表明 :检测 CSF中单纯疱疹病毒 Ig M抗体 ,可以快速确定其疱疹病毒性脑炎 ,方法简单易行 ,具有其临床实用价值     

Overdrainage and shunt technology

When vertical body position is simulated, conventional differential pressure valves show an absolutely unphysiological flow, which is 2–170 times the normal liquor production rate. Although this is compensated in part by the resistance of the silicon tubes, which may produce up to 94% of the resistance of the complete shunt system, a negative intracranial pressure (ICP) of up to 30–44 cmH₂O is an unavoidable consequence, which can be followed by subdural hematomas, slit ventricles, and other well-known complications. Modern shunt technology offers programmable, hydrostatic, and flow-controlled valves and anti-siphon devices; we have tested 13 different designs from 7 manufacturers (56 specimens), using the Heidelberg Valve Test Inventory with 16 subtests. Programmable valves reduce, but cannot exclude, unphysiological flow rates: even in the highest position and in combination with a standard catheter typical programmable Medos-Hakim valves allow a flow of 93–232 ml/h, Sophy SU-8-valves 86–168 ml/h with 30 cmH₂O. The effect of hydrostatic valves (Hakim-Lumbar, Chhabra) can be inactivated by movements of daily life. The weight of the metal balls in most valves was too low for adequate flow reduction. Antisiphon devices are highly dependent on external, i.e. subcutaneous, pressure which has unpredictable influences on shunt function, and clinically is sometimes followed by shunt insufficiency. Two new Orbis-Sigma valves showed relatively physiological flow rates even when the vertical position (30 cmH₂O) was simulated. One showed an insufficient flow (5.7 ml/h), and one was primarily obstructed. These have by far the smallest outlet of all valves. Additionally, the ruby pin tends to stick. Therefore, a high susceptibility to obliterations and blockade is unavoidable. Encouraging results obtained in pediatric patients contrast with disappointing experiences in some German and Swedish hospitals, which suggests that our laboratory findings are confirmed by clinical results. The concept of strict flow limitation seems to be inadaequate for adult patients, who need a relatively high flow during (nocturnal) ICP crises. The problem of shunt overdrainage remains unsolved.This paper is an updated version of an oral presentation held at the Consensus Conference: Hydrocephalus '92 Assisi, Italy, 26–30 April 1992Deceased