Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Amyloid β Proteins 1-40 and 1-42 in Alzheimer Disease

• Published in: Archives of neurology (Chicago) Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 100 - 105
• Main Authors: Mehta, Pankaj D, Pirttilä, Tuula, Mehta, Sangita P, Sersen, Eugene A, Aisen, Paul S, Wisniewski, Henryk M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 01.01.2000
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - blood; Alzheimer Disease - cerebrospinal fluid; Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Amyloid beta-Peptides - blood; Amyloid beta-Peptides - cerebrospinal fluid; Apolipoprotein E4; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Peptide Fragments - blood; Peptide Fragments - cerebrospinal fluid; Predictive Value of Tests; Human; Nervous system diseases; Apolipoprotein E; Alzheimer disease; β Amyloid protein; Central nervous system disease; Exploration; Genotype; Degenerative disease; Cerebrospinal fluid; Cerebral disorder; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0003-9942; 1538-3687
• DOI: 10.1001/archneur.57.1.100

BACKGROUND In brains with AD, Aβ is a major component of diffuse plaques. Previous reports showed that CSF Aβ42 levels were lower in patients with AD than in controls. Although studies showed higher plasma Aβ42 levels in familial AD, a recent report has indicated that plasma Aβ42 levels were similar in a sporadic AD group and controls. However, no information is published on plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in relation to Apo E genotype or severity of dementia in sporadic AD. OBJECTIVE To examine plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of amyloid β protein 1-40 (Aβ40) and 1-42 (Aβ42) levels in patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) and elderly nondemented control subjects in relation to the apolipoprotein E (Apo E) genotype and dementia severity. SETTING Two university medical centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS Levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were measured in plasma from 78 patients with AD and 61 controls and in CSF from 36 patients with AD and 29 controls by means of a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Mean plasma Aβ40 levels were higher in the AD group than in controls (P = .005), but there was substantial overlap; Aβ42 levels were similar between the groups. Levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 showed no association with sex or Mini-Mental State Examination scores. There was a significant relationship between age and Aβ40 level in controls but not in the AD group. Levels of Aβ40 were higher in patients with AD with the Apo E ϵ4 allele than in controls (P<.01). Cerebrospinal fluid Aβ40 levels were similar in the AD group and controls. However, Aβ42 levels were lower in the AD group than in controls (P<.001). The levels showed no association with severity of dementia. CONCLUSIONS Although mean plasma Aβ40 levels are elevated in sporadic AD and influenced by Apo E genotype, measurement of plasma Aβ40 levels is not useful to support the clinical diagnosis of AD. Lower levels of CSF Aβ42 in the AD group are consistent with previous studies.Arch Neurol. 2000;57:100-105-->