Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Human Prion Detection in Cerebrospinal Fluid

A report appearing in the current issue of Annals of Neurology (2017;81:79-92) titled "Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Human Prion Detection in Cerebrospinal Fluid" investigates the second-generation real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) prion test in a broad spectrum of prion diseases. The study concludes as follows: "The diagnostic performance of the improved CSF RT-QuIC is superior to surrogate marker tests for prion diseases such as 14-3-3 and tau proteins, and together with PRNP gene sequencing the test allows the major prion subtypes to be differentiated in vivo. This differentiation facilitates prediction of the clinicopathological phenotype and duration of the disease—two important considerations for envisioned therapeutic interventions." Among the authors are Aaron Foutz (first author), Mark Cohen, and Jiri Safar (senior author).