CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID APOLIPOPROTEIN-E LEVEL IS INCREASED IN LATE-ONSETALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Worldwide evidence has recently shown that the allele epsilon 4 of apo lipoprotein E (ApoE) is a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) underlining the possible role of apoE in the physiopathology of A D. To evaluate the usefulness of apoE concentration in pathogenesis of AD, we measured the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of apoE. CSF apo E level was significantly higher in 38 patients with late-onset AD tha n in 31 control patients and 47 patients suffering from other neurolog ical and related diseases. Higher levels of CSF apoE were also present in a subset of patients with meningoencephalitis, motor neuron diseas e, and low back pain. The increase of CSF-apoE in AD is in agreement w ith results from studies that find an increase of mRNA apoE in the bra ins of AD patients. Compared to other works, these results underline t he importance and the difficulties of the selection of the controls. T he CSF apoE level seems to be a reflection of neuronal damage and/or a n inflammatory reaction that may be common to AD and other neurologica l and related diseases. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.