Elevated Plasma P-Tau181 in ALS

High plasma p-tau may be a useful biomarker for ALS, especially for lower motor neuron predominant disease.

Elevation in plasma phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 (p-tau181) has been used as a marker of Alzheimer disease (AD) but was not previously well-described in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Now, researchers have compared plasma p-tau181 levels in 130 patients with ALS at a single institution (mean age at onset, 56 years; 60% male), 26 healthy controls, and 79 patients with AD. Controls were older and more likely to be female.

Plasma p-tau181 level was higher in patients with ALS than in controls (large effect size) but lower than in patients with AD (small effect size). Plasma p-tau181 was also higher in patients with sporadic ALS (median, 3.44 pg/mL) than in controls (median, 1.79 pg/mL). Conversely, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) p-tau18…

Reviewing Author

Leana Doherty, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsNeurohospitalist Society; InterACTN (Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology)

Leana Doherty, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsNeurohospitalist Society; InterACTN (Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology)

Elevated Plasma P-Tau181 in ALS

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Reviewing Author