Buerger Katharina, Zinkowski Raymond, Teipel Stefan J, Arai Hiroyuki, DeBernardis John, Kerkman Daniel, McCulloch Cheryl, Padberg Frank, Faltraco Frank, Goernitz Alexander, Tapiola Tero, Rapoport Stanley I, Pirttilä Tuula, Möller Hans-Jürgen, Hampel Harald
Dementia Research Section and Memory Clinic, Alzheimer Memorial Center and Geriatric Psychiatry Branch, Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Feb;160(2):376-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.2.376.
Differentiation of geriatric major depression from Alzheimer's disease is hampered by overlapping symptoms. Increased CSF concentrations of tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 231 (p-tau(231)) have been suggested as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. The authors asked whether p-tau(231) levels improve the differential diagnosis between geriatric major depression and Alzheimer's disease.
Included were 34 depression subjects, 64 with probable Alzheimer's disease, 17 with possible Alzheimer's disease, and 21 healthy comparison subjects. P-tau(231) concentrations were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
P-tau(231) levels were significantly higher in Alzheimer's disease than in geriatric major depression patients and healthy comparison subjects. For differentiation of probable Alzheimer's disease from major depression, p-tau(231) correctly allocated 87% of subjects. When possible mild Alzheimer's disease was compared to major depression, p-tau(231) correctly allocated 78% of subjects.
CSF p-tau(231) should be evaluated as a potential biological marker for differentiation of geriatric depression from Alzheimer's disease.
老年重度抑郁症与阿尔茨海默病的症状重叠，这给两者的鉴别带来了困难。脑脊液中苏氨酸231位点磷酸化的tau蛋白（p-tau(231)）浓度升高被认为是阿尔茨海默病的生物标志物。作者探讨了p-tau(231)水平是否有助于改善老年重度抑郁症与阿尔茨海默病之间的鉴别诊断。
纳入34名抑郁症患者、64名可能患有阿尔茨海默病的患者、17名可能患有阿尔茨海默病的患者以及21名健康对照者。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法测量p-tau(231)浓度。
阿尔茨海默病患者的p-tau(231)水平显著高于老年重度抑郁症患者和健康对照者。对于鉴别可能患有阿尔茨海默病与重度抑郁症，p-tau(231)能正确区分87%的受试者。当将可能患有轻度阿尔茨海默病的患者与重度抑郁症患者进行比较时，p-tau(231)能正确区分78%的受试者。
脑脊液p-tau(231)应作为鉴别老年抑郁症与阿尔茨海默病的潜在生物学标志物进行评估。
