Background: TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregation in neuronal cells is recognized as a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although the literature strongly supports the pathogenetic role of TDP-43 in ALS pathogenesis, the role of TDP-43 as a biomarker of ALS is controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic performance of TDP-43 for ALS.
Methods: Relevant publications were identified by a systematic literature search on PubMed and Web of Science from their inception to 8 April 2022.
Results: Seven studies, including 472 individuals, of whom 254 had ALS according to the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, met the inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis. According to the random-effects model, CSF TDP-43 levels are higher in ALS patients compared with control groups.
Conclusions: CSF TDP-43 could represent a biomarker of ALS, but further studies are mandatory before drawing conclusions.
Keywords: ALS; TDP-43; biomarker; diagnosis.