CSF and plasma biomarkers in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: A single-center study and a systematic review/meta-analysis

There are limited data regarding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma biomarkers among patients with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA). We sought to investigate the levels of four biomarkers [β-amyloids (Aβ42 and Aβ40), total tau (tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau)] in CAA patients compared to healthy controls (HC) and patients with Alzheimer Disease (AD).

A systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies, including also a 5 year single-center cohort study, with available data on CSF and plasma biomarkers in symptomatic sporadic CAA versus HC and AD was conducted. Biomarkers’ comparisons were investigated using random-effects models based on the ratio of mean (RoM) biomarker concentrations. RoM < 1 and RoM > 1 indicate lower and higher biomarker concentration in CAA compared to another population, respectively.

We identified nine cohorts, comprising 327 CAA patients (mean age: 71 ± 5 years; women: 45%) versus 336 HC (mean age: 65 ± 5 years; women: 45%) and 384 AD patients (mean age: 68 ± 3 years; women: 53%) with available data on CSF biomarkers. CSF Aβ42 levels [RoM: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.36–0.62; p < 0.0001], Aβ40 levels [RoM: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.63–0.79; p < 0.0001] and the ratio Aβ42/Aβ40 [RoM: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.39–0.98; p = 0.0438] differentiated CAA from HC. CSF Aβ40 levels [RoM: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.64–0.83; p = 0.0003] differentiated CAA from AD. CSF tau and p-tau levels differentiated CAA from HC [RoM: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.41–2.09; p = 0.0002 and RoM: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.20–1.73; p = 0.0014, respectively] and from AD [RoM: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.58–0.72; p < 0.0001 and RoM: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.57–0.71; p < 0.0001, respectively]. Plasma Aβ42 [RoM: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.89–1.45; p = 0.2079] and Aβ40 [RoM: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.91–1.25; p = 0.3306] levels were comparable between CAA and HC.

CAA is characterized by a distinct CSF biomarker pattern compared to HC and AD. CSF Aβ40 levels are lower in CAA compared to HC and AD, while tau and p-tau levels are higher in CAA compared to HC, but lower in comparison to AD patients.