Who needs cerebrospinal biomarkers? A national survey in clinical practice

J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;40(4):857-61. doi: 10.3233/JAD-132672.

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are well validated in clinical research but less in clinical practice. Using a questionnaire, we evaluated the reasons for prescriptions and clinician's expectations concerning CSF biomarkers. The results show that CSF AD biomarkers are mainly required in case of atypical dementia and diagnosis uncertainty that are different from indications in clinical research. In the future, clinicians wish to get new biomarkers that could improve differential diagnosis and could have a good pronostic value. Further studies in routine practice are necessary to precise the role of these biomarkers in the management of patients.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; biomarkers; cerebrospinal fluid; clinical practice.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Cognition Disorders / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Dementia / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Biomarkers