Method for diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

摘要

A method and kit are described that are useful in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or the evaluation of its progression. According to the method, a purified voltage-sensitive calcium channel complex is contacted with a biological fluid obtained from a person suspected of having, or known to have, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The voltage-sensitive calcium channel is of a type that ALS sera selectively reacts with. The reaction takes place for a time and under conditions sufficient for the calcium channel complex and anti-calcium channel complex antibodies that may be present in the biological fluid to form an antigen/antibody complex. The presence or absence of the antigen/antibody complex is then determined.