Differential diagnosis of neurological diseases

• US 20020019016A1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innogenetics NV (H.U. Group Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Innogenetics NV (H.U. Group Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vanmechelen, Eugeen, Vanderstichele, Hugo, Hulstaert, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 6,670,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 21/00 Drugs for disorders of the muscular or neuromuscular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/16 Anti-Parkinson drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/28 for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/28 Neurological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/2821 Alzheimer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/2835 Movement disorders, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington, Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6896 Neurological disorders, e.g. Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus and individual suffering from another neurological disease. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, versus an individual suffering from Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, versus an individual suffering from multi-system atrophy and/or versus an individual suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy, said method characterized that phospho-tau is used as a neurological marker.

Claims

1. A method for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from another neurological disease characterized that phospho-tau is used as a neurological marker.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the steps of:

determining the level of phospho-tau in said individual;

inference that said individual is suffering from a neurological disease other than Alzheimer'"'"'s disease by comparing the obtained level of phospho-tau in said individual with the level of phospho-tau in individuals suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, whereby a decreased level of phospho-tau being an indication that said individual is suffering from a neurological disease other than Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.

3. A method according to any of claims 1 to 2 further characterized that an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease is differentially diagnosed versus an individual suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, versus an individual suffering from Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, versus an individual suffering from multi-system atrophy and/or versus an individual suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy.

4. A method according to claim 3 comprising the steps of:

determining the level of phospho-tau in said individual;

inference that said individual is suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, from Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, from multi-system atrophy and/or from progressive supranuclear palsy by comparing the obtained level of phospho-tau in said individual with the level of phospho-tau in individuals suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, whereby a decreased level of phospho-tau being an indication that said individual is suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, from Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, from multi-system atrophy and/or from progressive supranuclear palsy.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4 further characterized that said method is carried out in vitro, on a sample obtained from said individual.

6. A method according to claim 5 further characterized that said sample is taken from the cerebrospinal fluid or from blood derivatives of said individual.

7. A method according to claim 6 further characterized that said method comprises the steps of:

obtaining a cerebrospinal fluid sample from said individual;

determining the level of phospho-tau in said cerebrospinal fluid sample;

inference that said individual is suffering from a neurological disease other than Alzheimer'"'"'s disease such as dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, multi-system atrophy and/or progressive supranuclear palsy by comparing the obtained level of phospho-tau in the cerebrospinal fluid sample of said individual with the level of phospho-tau in a cerebrospinal fluid sample of individuals suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, whereby a decreased level of phospho-tau being an indication that said individual is suffering from a neurological disease other than Alzheimer'"'"'s disease such as dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, multi-system atrophy and/or progressive supranuclear palsy.

8. Method according to any of claims 1 to 7 further characterized that the level of phospho-tau is determined immunologicaly, making use of an antibody that specifically recognizes phospho-tau.

9. Use of phospho-tau as a neurological marker for the manufacture of a diagnostic kit for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from another neurological disease.

10. Use of phospho-tau as a neurological marker for the manufacture of a diagnostic kit for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, versus an individual suffering from Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, versus an individual suffering from multi-system atrophy and/or versus an individual suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy.

11. Use of an antibody that specifically recognizes phospho-tau for the manufacture of a diagnostic kit for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from another neurological disease.

12. Use of an antibody that specifically recognizes phospho-tau for the manufacture of a diagnostic kit for the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, versus an individual suffering from Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, versus an individual suffering from multi-system atrophy and/or versus an individual suffering progressive supranuclear palsy.

13. A diagnostic kit for use in the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from another neurological disease.

14. A diagnostic kit for use in the differential diagnosis of an individual suffering from Alzheimer'"'"'s disease versus an individual suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, versus an individual suffering from Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, versus an individual suffering from multi-system atrophy and/or versus an individual suffering progressive supranuclear palsy.

15. Method to screen or monitor the effect on an individual of compounds which prevent or treat Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson'"'"'s disease without dementia, multi-system atrophy and/or progressive supranuclear palsy, said method comprising the step of determining the level of phospho-tau in said individual.