Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay in PSP and CBS

Abstract

Background: Seed amplification assay (SAA) testing has become an important biomarker in the diagnosis of alpha-synuclein related neurodegenerative disorders.

Objectives: To assess the rate of alpha-synuclein SAA positivity in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and analyse the clinical and pathological features of SAA positive and negative cases.

Methods: 106 CSF samples from clinically diagnosed PSP (n=59), CBS (n=37) and indeterminate parkinsonism cases (n=10) were analysed using alpha-synuclein SAA.

Results: Three cases (1 PSP, 2 CBS) were Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)-type SAA positive. 5/59 (8.5%) PSP cases were Parkinson's disease (PD)-type SAA positive, and these cases were older and had a shorter disease duration compared with SAA negative cases. In contrast, 9/35 (25.7%) CBS cases were PD-type SAA positive.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that PD-type seeds can be detected in PSP and CBS using a CSF alpha-synuclein SAA, and in PSP this may impact on clinical course.