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. 2017 Oct 15;27(3):030703.
doi: 10.11613/BM.2017.030703. Epub 2017 Aug 28.

Tau protein as a possible marker of cerebrospinal fluid leakage in cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea: A pilot study

Jean-Baptiste Oudart  1   2   3 , Laure Zucchini  1   3 , François-Xavier Maquart  1   2 , Xavier Dubernard  4 , Marc Labrousse  4 , Géraldine Fiabane  1 , Alexandra Quedreux  1 , Fabien Litre  5 , Laurent Ramont  1   2
Affiliations

Tau protein as a possible marker of cerebrospinal fluid leakage in cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea: A pilot study

Jean-Baptiste Oudart et al. Biochem Med (Zagreb). .

Abstract

Introduction: The management of posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea remains a clinical challenge. Cerebrospinal fistula is a dural defect responsible for possible CSF leakage into the contiguous air-filled cavities located at the skull base. The risk of central nervous system infection in these conditions is severe and can be life threatening. Consequently, a specific CSF biomarker might be used in case of difficult diagnosis of CSF rhinorrhoea. CSF Tau protein is a neuronal protein, commonly assessed for diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease (AD). The aim of this study was to determine whether the Tau protein could be a relevant marker of CSF leakage.

Materials and methods: Tau protein measurement was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 13 patients with CSF leakage (CSF rhinorrhoea group), and 8 patients with spontaneous aqueous rhinorrhoea (non-CSF leakage group). The serum concentration of Tau protein was measured by ELISA in both CSF rhinorrhoea group and non-CSF leakage group.

Results: In patients with CSF leakage, CSF Tau protein median concentration was 479 ng/L (197 - 2325 ng/L). On the other hand, the Tau protein concentration was below the lower limit of quantification (LLoQ) (< 87 ng/L) in non-CSF leakage group. Serum Tau protein concentration by ELISA was also below LLoQ (< 87 ng/L) for all subjects.

Conclusion: ELISA measurement of Tau protein in rhinorrhoea fluid may be a reliable and relevant marker for detecting the presence of CSF in the nasal discharge and sign the existence of a CSF leakage.

Keywords: ELISA; Tau protein; cerebrospinal fluid; cerebrospinal fluid leakage; cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflict of interest: None declared.

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