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Research paper
Validation of biomarkers in subcortical ischaemic vascular disease of the Binswanger type: approach to targeted treatment trials
  1. Gary A Rosenberg1,2,3,
  2. Jillian Prestopnik1,
  3. John C Adair1,
  4. Branko N Huisa1,
  5. Janice Knoefel4,
  6. Arvind Caprihan5,
  7. Charles Gasparovic5,
  8. Jeffrey Thompson1,
  9. Erik B Erhardt6,
  10. Ronald Schrader7
  1. 1Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
  2. 2Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
  3. 3Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
  4. 4Department of Geriatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
  5. 5The MIND Research Network, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
  6. 6Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
  7. 7Clinical and Translational Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Gary Rosenberg, Department of Neurology, Health Sciences Center, MSC 10 5620, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA; grosenberg{at}salud.unm.edu

Abstract

Objectives Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a heterogeneous group of cerebrovascular diseases secondary to large and small vessel disease. We hypothesised that biomarkers obtained early in the disease could identify a homogeneous subpopulation with small vessel disease.

Methods We obtained disease markers in 62 patients with VCI that included neurological findings, neuropsychological tests, multimodal MR and cerebrospinal fluid measurements of albumin ratio, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), amyloid-β1–42 and phosphorylated-τ181. Proton MR spectroscopic imaging showed ischaemic white matter and permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was measured with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. We constructed a 10-point Binswanger disease score (BDS) with subjective and objective disease markers. In addition, an objective set of biomarkers was used for an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to select patients with BD. Patients were followed for an average of 2 years to obtain clinical consensus diagnoses.

Results An initial BDS of 6 or greater was significantly correlated with a final diagnosis of BD (p<0.05; area under the curve (AUC)=0.79). EFA reduced nine objective biomarkers to four factors. The most predictive of BD was the factor containing the inflammatory biomarkers of increased BBB permeability, elevated albumin index and reduced MMP-2 index (factor 2; AUC=0.78). Both measures independently predicted a diagnosis of BD, and combining them improved the diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusions Biomarkers predicted the diagnosis of the BD type of subcortical ischaemic vascular disease. Using pathophysiological biomarkers to select homogeneous groups of patients needs to be tested in targeted treatment trials.

  • BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER
  • CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE
  • VASCULAR DEMENTIA
  • CSF
  • COGNITION

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