The study was done to assess the ability of eight commonly measured blood markers to serve as prognostic biomarkers in ALS.
399 individuals with newly diagnosed ALS were included in the study. Information on eight blood markers, including creatinine, albumin, hemoglobin, CRP, glucose, potassium, sodium, and calcium, measured at or after the date of ALS diagnosis, was collected.
A lower than the median level of serum creatinine or albumin whereas a higher than the median level of log‐transformed CRP at baseline was associated with higher mortality risk. Taking all available measurements after ALS diagnosis into account, an association was found between per SD decrease in serum creatinine or albumin as well as per SD increase of log(CRP) or glucose and higher mortality risk. No clear association was found for hemoglobin, potassium, sodium, or calcium.
This study concluded on the basis of its findings that serum creatinine, albumin, CRP, and glucose measured at the time of ALS diagnosis as well as their temporal changes after ALS diagnosis could serve as additional prognostic biomarkers for ALS. Their values in routine clinical practice and clinical trials of ALS need to be investigated further.
Reference: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.14409
