F. Licastro et al., ACUTE-PHASE REACTANT ALPHA(1)-ANTICHYMOTRYPSIN IS INCREASED IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID AND SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH PROBABLE ALZHEIMER-DISEASE, Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, 9(2), 1995, pp. 112-118
Levels of alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (alpha(1)-ACT) in cerebrospinal fl
uid (CSF) and serum from patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD)
of both early (e-AD) and late (1-AD) onset assessed by a competitive
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were higher than those found in cont
rols or in patients with vascular dementia (VD). A negative correlatio
n between CSF levels of alpha(1)-ACT and the stage of the disease was
present in patients with both e-AD and 1-AD. No difference in alpha(2)
-macroglobulin levels in CSF and serum from patients with e-AD, 1-AD,
VD, and nondemented controls was found. Serum concentrations of alpha(
1)-antitrypsin from 1-AD subjects were within the normal range. Thus,
increased levels of alpha(1)-ACT in CSF and serum were specifically as
sociated with AD, and the detection of this serpin in CSF may be usefu
l in monitoring the progression of the disease.