ALS Can Be Diagnosed by Biomarkers

Detection of protein abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may allow doctors to more rapidly diagnose and monitor drug efficacy, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations in Milan (Italy).

CSF samples were obtained from recently diagnosed ALS patients and from control subjects who did not have ALS. Using mass spectrometry to characterize protein peaks that exhibited statistically significant alterations between ALS patients and the control group, researchers identified protein biomarkers that diagnose ALS with near 100% specificity and sensitivity.

"By monitoring the biomarkers, we will be able to directly monitor drug efficacy,” said Robert Bowser, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (PA, USA; www.upmc.edu), who presented the study. "By using data from multiple clinical trials, we can determine the best drug combination to offer ALS patients. Our next step is to confirm our results with a larger patient population and further evaluate how the biomarker signature pattern changes during disease progression.”