Diagnostic markers for diagnosing dementia with Lewy bodies: CSF and MIBG cardiac scintigraphy study

ObjectiveThis study examined the diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers and iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) cardiac scintigraphy in distinguishing dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer's disease (AD).MethodsCSF levels of amyloid β1-42 (Aβ42) and 181-Thr phosphorylated tau (p-tau) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. 123I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy was performed in patients with AD and DLB, and control (CTL) subjects.ResultsIncreased CSF levels of p-tau in AD were found compared to DLB patients and CTL subjects (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in CSF levels of Aβ42 between AD and DLB patients. The early and delayed heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratios of 123I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy were significantly decreased in patients with DLB compared to AD patients and CTL subjects (P < 0.01). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the diagnostic value of 123I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy was superior to that of CSF markers.Conclusions123I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy may be useful for discriminating between DLB and AD.