A controlled study of reverse transcriptase in serum and CSF of HIV-negative patients with ALS.

MacGowan, D J L; Scelsa, S N; Imperato, T E; Liu, K-N; Baron, P; Polsky, B · Neurology · 2007

case_control · Level III

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Abstract

Reverse transcriptase has been detected in the serum of HIV-negative patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An ALS-like disorder in HIV-positive patients can remit with antiretroviral therapy. Using the product enhanced assay technique, we measured reverse transcriptase activity in the serum and CSF of 23 HIV-negative patients with ALS and 21 neurologic disease controls. Results for CSF were not significant, whereas reverse transcriptase was detected in 56% of ALS sera vs 19% of controls.

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