Affiliations: [a] Centre for Medical Education, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK | [b] Senior Scientist, Regional Immunology Lab, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK | [c] Queen's University of Belfast, Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences – Block A, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK | [d] Northern Health and Social Care Trust, 45 Bush Rd, County Antrim, UK | [e] Queen's University of Belfast, Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science A, Queen's University of Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, UK
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Michael A. Williams, Centre for Medical Education, Queen's University of Belfast, Mulhouse Building, Mulhouse Road, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 02890632591; Fax: +44 2890972451; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: Biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) should meet several criteria, including simplicity of testing. Inappropriate activation of the complement cascade has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Complement factor H (CFH) is a regulator of the cascade, but studies on plasma CFH levels in AD have provided mixed results. This study compared plasma CFH levels in 317 AD cases with 254 controls using an immunodiffusion assay. The sample had an 80% power to detect a difference of 23 mg/L between cases and controls, but no difference was evident. Plasma CFH may not be a suitable biomarker for AD.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, biological markers, complement factor H
