CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID CONCENTRATION OF NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE IN DIAGNOSIS OF CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB-DISEASE

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is among the biochemical markers in cere brospinal fluid reported to be useful in the differential diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from other dementing illnesses. In a group of 58 patients definite and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, with probable N SE concentrations (median 94 . 0, interquartile range 256 ng/mL) were significantly higher (p<0 . 001) than in 26 control patients (9 . 5, 1 5 . 5 ng/mL). At a cut-off of 35 ng/mL an optimum sensitivity of 80% w ith a specificity of 92% for the diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseas e by NSE in cerebrospinal fluid was obtained.