Reference Center for Biological Markers of Memory Disorders
A promising approach to increase the diagnostic accuracy for dementia diagnosis is the use of biochemical markers (biomarkers) that are present in easily accessible body fluids like serum, plasma or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Within the Reference Center for Biological Markers of Memory Disorders, we contribute to the development and characterization of biomarkers, meanwhile developing and validating biomarkers-based diagnostic models that can easily be applied in routine clinical diagnosis.
Indeed, several studies have confirmed the relevance of total tau-protein (T-tau) and β-amyloid peptide (Aβ1-42) in the pathogenic processes associated with dementias of neurodegenerative origin.
The combined assessment of CSF A β42, T-tau, and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (P-tau181P) levels is routinely performed by means of commercially available ELISA kits and was demonstrated to have added diagnostic value for AD diagnosis and to increase specificity for discriminating AD from other (degenerative) dementias.
Should you wish to send future CSF samples for biomarker analyses, please fill out the request form. It is moreover important to pay attention to the following guidelines in order to ensure reliable biomarker results (see as well Technical directions and forms):
• Please sample CSF in polypropylene vials
• Minimal sample volume: 2 ml
• CSF samples that are macroscopically hemorrhagic, should be excluded
• Avoid freeze-thaw cycles:
• In case the samples are shipped at room temperature, it should arrive at the lab within 24 hours
• In case the samples are frozen, they should be shipped on dry ice
Please inform your patients that the cost price for these analyses is €165, which is not covered by the regular Belgian insurance companies (refunding is however provided by some supplementary hospitalization insurances).
| Prof. Dr. P.P. De Deyn, director | Prof. Dr. S. Engelborghs, coordinator |
|---|---|
| mail prof. De Deyn | mail prof. Engelborghs |
| Tel: +32 3 265 26 17 Fax: +32 3 265 26 18 |
Tel: +32 3 265 23 94 Fax: +32 3 265 26 18 |
| Reference Center for Biological Markers of Memory Disorders Institute Born-Bunge / University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 BE-2610 Antwerp |
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References
| Vanderstichele H., Bibl M., Engelborghs S., Le Bastard N., Lewczuk P., Molinuevo J..L, Parnetti L., Perret-Liaudet A., Shaw L.M., Teunissen C., Wouters D., Blennow K. Standardization of preanalytical aspects of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker testing for Alzheimer´s disease diagnosis: A consensus paper from the Alzheimer's Biomarkers Standardization Initiative. Alzheimers Dement. 2012 Jan;8(1):65-73. Epub 2011 Nov 2. PMID: 22047631 [PubMed - in process] | link |
| Engelborghs S. [Searched for and found: non-demented patients with Alzheimer´s disease]. Tijdschr Psychiatr. 2011;53(9):654-6. Dutch. No abstract available. PMID: 21898323 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] | link |
| Boon P., Engelborghs S., Hauman H., Jansen A., Lagae L., Legros B., Ossemann M., Sadzot B., Urbain E., van Rijckevorsel K. Acta Neurol Belg. 2008 Dec;108(4):118-30. Recommendations for the treatment of epilepsies in general practice in Belgium. PMID: 19239040 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] | link |
| Matton A., Engelborghs S., Bollengier F., Finné E, Vanhaeist L. Modulating effect of the nootropic drug, piracetam on stress- and subsequent morphine-induced prolactin secretion in male rats. Br J Pharmacol. 1996 Feb;117(3):502-506. PMID: 8821540 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free PMC Article | link |
| Le Bastard N., Martin J.-J., Vanmechelen E., Vanderstichele H., De Deyn P.P., Engelborghs S.: Added diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for differential dementia diagnosis. Neurobiol Aging (2010) 31: 1867-1876. | |
| S. Engelborghs, K. Sleegers, P. Cras, N. Brouwers, S. Serneels, E. De Leenheir, J.-J. Martin, E. Vanmechelen, C. Van Broeckhoven, P.P. De Deyn. No association of CSF biomarkers with APOE e4, plaque and tangle burden in definite Alzheimer´s disease. Brain 2007, 130: 2320-2326. | |
| S. Engelborghs, K. De Vreese, T. Van de Casteele, H. Vanderstichele, B. Van Everbroeck, P. Cras, J.J. Martin, E. Vanmechelen, P.P. De Deyn. Diagnostic performance of a CSF-biomarker panel in autopsy-confirmed dementia. Neurobiology of Aging 2008, 29: 1143-1159. | |
| N. Le Bastard, J.-J. Martin, E. Vanmechelen, H. Vanderstichele, P.P. De Deyn, S. Engelborghs. Added diagnostic value of CSF biomarkers in differential dementia diagnosis. Neurobiology of Aging 2009, doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.10.017. |