Tau and Aβ42 protein in CSF of patients with frontotemporal degeneration

Abstract

Background: CSF concentrations of tau and β-amyloid protein-42 (Aβ42) have been extensively studied in AD. Few data are available concerning CSF levels of both proteins in patients with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). Methods: The authors investigated CSF tau and Aβ42 concentrations in 34 patients with FTD, 74 patients with AD, and 40 cognitively healthy control subjects. CSF levels of tau and Aβ42 were measured by ELISA. With use of receiver operating characteristic-derived cutoff points and linear discrimination lines, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of both markers were determined. Results: CSF tau concentrations were significantly higher in FTD than in control subjects but ..