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Estimate of the TSD Based on the Quantification of the Tau Protein in CSF

NCT03845439 · Status: UNKNOWN · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 80

Last updated 2019-02-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background: The accurate estimation of the time of death is a challenge in forensic medicine, as the methods routinely used to assess the post-mortem interval (PMI) are far from being precise. Recent developments in biochemical techniques may provide the opportunity to assist in more precise estimation of the time of death. The focus has been placed on the study of the biochemical profiles of closed compartment body fluids, as they are longer preserved than blood after death and subject to confined post-mortem chemical changes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been considered as a suitable fluid to investigate these changes, as it is easy to sample and found in large amount.

Due to its closeness to the central nervous system (CNS), CSF is used in clinical settings for the diagnosis of various CNS disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, whose diagnosis is mainly based on the increase of the concentrations of Tau protein and its phosphorylated isoform (p-Tau) in CSF. A post mortem leakage of Tau into the CSF has also been shown, reflecting progressive neuronal death as in Alzheimer's disease. In this exploratory, cross-sectional study, we investigated Tau in post mortem CSF as a potential biomarker of the time of death.

Objectives: The main objective was to assess the correlation between the concentration of Tau in CSF and the PMI. The secondary objectives were (1) to determine the inter-individual variability of the concentration of Tau for a same PMI; (2) to determine the kinetics of this concentration over time in the same individual; (3) to determine the variability of this concentration according to the site of collection (lumbar vs. sub-occipital).

Conditions

  • Time of Death

Interventions

OTHER

Lumbar puncture

Lumbar puncture

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Montpellier

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Pierre-Antoine PEYRON, MD · University Hospital, Montpellier

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-11-01
Primary Completion
2019-10-01
Completion
2019-10-30

Countries

  • France

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03845439 on ClinicalTrials.gov