Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in Chinese patients: a pilot study

In view of the paucity of data on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in Chinese patients, we evaluated the validity of tau, phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau-181), amyloid β 42 (Aβ42), and Aβ40 proteins in Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recruited 24 patients with AD, 12 nondemented controls, and 12 patients with non-AD dementia. We found the CSF levels of Aβ42, tau, p-tau, Aβ42-tau, and Aβ42-p-tau ratios, except the Aβ40 protein level, were significantly different among the 3 groups of patients. Patients with AD had higher levels of CSF tau and p-tau but lower levels of Aβ42 proteins, Aβ42-tau, and Aβ42-p-tau ratios than the nondemented controls. In the diagnosis of AD versus nondementia, the sensitivity and specificity of the ratios of Aβ42-tau and Aβ42-p-tau were 96% and 83% versus 92% and 83%, respectively. Only the Aβ42-p-tau ratio showed satisfactory sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of AD versus other dementia.