Dopaminergic and serotonergic alterations in plasma in three groups of dystonia patients.
Parkinsonism Relat Disord
; 91: 48-54, 2021 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34482194
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
In dystonia, dopaminergic alterations are considered to be responsible for the motor symptoms. Recent attention for the highly prevalent non-motor symptoms suggest also a role for serotonin in the pathophysiology. In this study we investigated the dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic metabolism in blood samples of dystonia patients and its relation with (non-)motor manifestations.METHODS:
Concentrations of metabolites of dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways were measured in platelet-rich plasma in 41 myoclonus-dystonia (M-D), 25 dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD), 50 cervical dystonia (CD) patients and 55 healthy individuals. (Non-)motor symptoms were assessed using validated instruments, and correlated with concentrations of metabolites.RESULTS:
A significantly higher concentration of 3-methoxytyramine (0.03 vs. 0.02 nmol/L, p < 0.01), a metabolite of dopamine, and a reduced concentration of tryptophan (50 vs. 53 µmol/L, p = 0.03), the precursor of serotonin was found in dystonia patients compared to controls. The dopamine/levodopa ratio was higher in CD patients compared to other dystonia groups (p < 0.01). Surprisingly, relatively high concentrations of levodopa were found in the untreated DRD patients. Low concentrations of levodopa were associated with severity of dystonia (rs = -0.3, p < 0.01), depression (rs = -0.3, p < 0.01) and fatigue (rs = -0.2, p = 0.04).CONCLUSION:
This study shows alterations in the dopaminergic and serotonergic metabolism of patients with dystonia, with dystonia subtype specific changes. Low concentrations of levodopa, but not of serotonergic metabolites, were associated with both motor and non-motor symptoms. Further insight into the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in dystonia with a special attention to the kinetics of enzymes involved in these pathways, might lead to better treatment options.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Torticollis
/
Dopamine
/
Levodopa
/
Serotonin
/
Dystonic Disorders
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Parkinsonism Relat Disord
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article