CSF neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic protein in normal pressure hydrocephalus.

• We examined CSF levels of markers of neuronal degeneration and astrogliosis-the light subunit of the neurofilament triplet protein (NFL) and the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-in 65 patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). NFL was increased sixfold (864 +/- 1,538 [mean +/- SD] versus 156 +/- 81 ng/L; p < or = 0.001) and GFAP twofold (1,116 +/- 1,085 versus 637 +/- 295 ng/L; p < or = 0.01) in NPH patients compared with neurologically healthy age-matched controls. No correlation was found between any particular symptom or sign and GFAP levels in CSF. The levels of NFL, on the other hand, were higher in patients with severe symptoms compared with those with moderate or no symptoms. Furthermore, there was a correlation between a high level of NFL and gait disturbance, incontinence, psychometric incapability, and social dysfunction. A high preoperative NFL level was associated with favorable outcome after shunt surgery. This indicates that NFL is a marker of ongoing and possibly still-reversible axonal damage in NPH.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adult

Aged

Aged

80 and over

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts

Female

Gait

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein

cerebrospinal fluid

Gliosis

cerebrospinal fluid

Humans

Hydrocephalus

Normal Pressure

cerebrospinal fluid

complications

surgery

Male

Mental Disorders

cerebrospinal fluid

etiology

Middle Aged

Nerve Degeneration

cerebrospinal fluid

Neurofilament Proteins

cerebrospinal fluid

Predictive Value of Tests

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)