Elevated CSF TDP-43 levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Specificity, sensitivity, and a possible prognostic value

TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) is likely to be the major pathogenetic protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A previous study has shown that levels of TDP-43 in CSF measured by an ELISA are significantly higher for ALS patients than for controls. The aim of this study was to investigate whether elevated CSF TDP-43 levels are specific to ALS, and are associated with clinical profiles in ALS patients. We measured CSF TDP-43 levels by the same ELISA in 27 ALS patients and 50 neurodegenerative or inflammatory disease controls such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.