The present invention relates to the sector of clinical diagnosis, and relates in particular to an in vitro method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on determining the redox state of albumin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The invention also relates to the use of a tool for determining the content of mercaptoalbumin (HMA) in the preparation of a kit or system for the in vitro diagnosis of AD. When the kit or the system is used, the method comprises the steps of a) determining the content of mercaptoalbumin (HMA) in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); and b) comparing the content determined with the content of HMA in CSF in healthy subjects. lf the HMA content is less than that of the healthy subjects, it is indicative of AD. The invention also relates to the use of the above tools in the preparation of a kit or system for the in vitro diagnosis of AD. When the kit or the system is used, the method comprises the steps of a) determining the content of mercaptoalbumin (HMA) in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and a sample of blood or plasma from a patient; b) determining a difference or ratio between the content of HMA in the sample of CSF and the content of HMA in the sample of blood or plasma determined in step a); and c) comparing the difference or ratio determined in step b) with the corresponding difference or ratio in healthy subjects.
In vitro diagnostic method for Alzheimer's disease, based on the albumin redox level in the cerebrospinal fluid