Address of Corresponding Author

Gerontology 2005;51:142-144 (DOI: 10.1159/000082200)

  Key Words

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Homocysteine
• Neurotoxicity
• Neurodegeneration

  Abstract

Background: There is evidence that homocysteine contributes to various neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: To assess the values of homocysteine in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. Methods: Study design: Case control study. Total homocysteine was quantified in CSF and plasma samples of CJD patients (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 13). Results: Mean values in healthy controls: 0.15 µmol/l ± 0.07 (CSF) and 9.10 µmol/l ± 2.99 (plasma); mean values in CJD patients: 0.13 µmol/l ± 0.03 (CSF) and 9.22 µmol/l ± 1.81 (plasma). No significant differences between CJD patients and controls were observed (Mann-Whitney U, p > 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that the CSF and plasma of CJD patients showed no higher endogenous levels of homocysteine as compared to normal healthy controls. These findings provide no evidence for an additional role of homocysteine in the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying CJD neurodegeneration.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Dr. Jens Wiltfang
Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Schwabachanlage 6-10
DE-91054 Erlangen (Germany), Tel. +49 9131 853 4597
Fax +49 9131 853 4105, E-Mail jens.wiltfang@psych.imed.uni-erlangen.de

  Article Information

Received: June 16, 2004
Accepted: August 23, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 11