Multidisciplinary Workgroup Publishes Appropriate Use Criteria for LP and CSF Testing for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Summary

Today, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association published appropriate use criteria (AUC) to guide the use of lumbar puncture (LP) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for use in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

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The publication is the culmination of a multidisciplinary initiative started in early 2017 by the Alzheimer’s Association, with support from Avalere Health.

AUC specify when it is appropriate to perform a procedure, and facilitate clinical decision-making, by combining the best available scientific evidence with the collective judgment of physicians to determine the appropriateness of performing that procedure.

In anticipation of the emergence of more reliable CSF analysis platforms, the AUC developed through this initiative offer important guidance to healthcare practitioners, especially in the United States, where the use of LP and CSF analysis has typically been reserved for the research setting. To develop the AUC, a multidisciplinary workgroup evaluated 14 clinical indications that are regularly encountered in clinical practice that may prompt consideration for LP or CSF testing. Using a consensus-based approach, the workgroup determined that LP and CSF biomarker testing is appropriate for six of the 14 clinical indications evaluated. The workgroup also recommended 6 areas where more research is needed.

Access the publication here.

For more information about these AUC, please listen in on our 3-part podcast series with:

Dr. Maria Carrillo and Dr. Jim Hendrix of the Alzheimer’s Association,

Dr. Leslie Shaw of The University of Pennsylvania, and

Dr. Steve Salloway of Butler Hospital.

To learn more about Avalere’s work, connect with us.