Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and homocysteine levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid

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 ±mol/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.