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Pathological features of preclinical or early clinical stages of corticobasal degeneration: a comparison with advanced cases
Author(s) -
Nishida Naoki,
Yoshida Koji,
Hata Yukiko,
Arai Yuichi,
Kinoshita Koshi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.538
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1365-2990
pISSN - 0305-1846
DOI - 10.1111/nan.12229
Subject(s) - pathology , corticobasal degeneration , medicine , pathological , gliosis , atrophy , neuropathology , autopsy , subclinical infection , disease , progressive supranuclear palsy
Aims The manner in which pathological lesions of corticobasal degeneration ( CBD ) progress remains poorly understood. Because the pathology of early disease stages may be fundamental for elucidating a border between clinical and preclinical states of CBD , the present study aimed to detect preclinical or early clinical CBD cases by examining a series of forensic autopsy cases. Methods A series of 887 brains from medicolegal autopsies was examined. Immunohistochemistry for tau ( AT 8, 3, and 4‐repeat‐tau) and G allyas‐ B raak was applied for diagnosis. Neuropathological diagnosis of CBD followed criteria updated in 2002 by a working group. Results Three autopsy cases (0.34%) were identified that fulfilled CBD pathological criteria. Two cases were preclinical or very early clinical cases without brain atrophy; the other case had exhibited a 5‐year history of advanced frontotemporal dementia. Significant microscopic differences between the subclinical and clinical cases included occurrence of neuronal loss with spongiosis and gliosis, as well as a difference in degree of tau pathology in the superficial layer of the neocortical areas and white matter. Anatomical hierarchy of tau pathology in the brain was not evident, but asymmetric neocortical tau pathology that might influence the clinical phenotype was found in preclinical and early clinical cases. Conclusions The results revealed the pathological features of subclinical and early clinical CBD cases. Comparison with clinical CBD cases showed that neuronal loss, cortical atrophy and volume reduction of white matter may be involved in the occurrence of clinical symptoms of CBD . Additionally, immunohistochemistry is essential for detecting preclinical CBD cases, regardless of case selection.