AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightPeripheral nervous system involvement may be a component even in the early stage of this multi-system disease.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Özet
Objective: Recent electrophysiologic and pathologic evidence suggests a relationship between idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and the peripheral nervous system. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations and possible polyneuropathy in the early stages of Parkinson disease from an electrophysiologic aspect. Methods: Forty-five patients with IPD and 32 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The clinical staging of disease was performed using the Modified Hoehn & Yahr Staging Scale, and the clinical severity was performed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. The Neuropathy Impairment Score of the Lower Limbs was used for the clinical evaluation of polyneuropathy. Median, ulnar, tibial, and peroneal motor nerve conduction studies, and median, ulnar, sural sensory nerve conduction studies were performed in all subjects in both groups. Results: A significant difference was determined between the groups because polyneuropathy was detected in 44.4% of patients compared with 3.1% in the control group. Neuropathy Impairment scores were significantly higher in the patient group compared with the control group (p<0.001). Serum Hcy concentrations were also significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p<0.001). No significant difference was determined between the Hcy concentrations of patients with or without polyneuropathy. Conclusion: Elevated Hcy concentrations that are considered to be induced by levodopa treatment cannot be the only reason for the development of polyneuropathy in IPD. Peripheral nervous system involvement may be a component even in the early stage of this multi-system disease.