SUMMARY
Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the plasma level of HCY in patients with PD compared to healthy controls, to determine its relationship to the motor subtype of PD and the treatment of PD.
Background: The results of several studies document increased plasma homocysteine (HCY) levels in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Hyperhomocysteinemia causes cerebrovascular damage and has neurotoxic effects. The combination of these factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of PD and its motor heterogeneity.
Group and methods: The group consisted of 180 persons, of which 125 patients (71 men and 54 women) with a mean age of 66.27 years (39 - 86 years) and 55 healthy controls (33 men and 22 women) with a mean age of 65.27 years (45 - 85 years). Patients were divided into three groups according to the motor subtype of PD (tremor-dominant, akinetic-rigid and mixed subtype) and 2 groups according to the type of treatment (levodopa-treated patients and levodopa-free patients).
Results: Patients with PD had significantly higher serum HCY levels compared to the control group (16.7 vs. 11.8 µmol/l;
p < 001). HCY level was increased in all PD subtypes with no significant differences between subtypes. We observed a significant increase in HCY in patients treated with levodopa.
Conclusion: Elevation of serum HCY levels in PD patients is associated with the use of levodopa and does not differ between motor PD subtypes.
Key words: Parkinson disease, homocysteine, motor subtype, levodopa.
Lek Obz, 2021, 70 (10): 338-342
Jana BALLOVA 1, Filip OLEKSAK 2, Stefan SIVAK 1, Vladimir NOSAL 1, Egon KURCA 1, Milan GROFIK 1
1 Department of Neurology, University Hospital Martin, Jessenius Medical Faculty in Martin, Commenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, head prof. MUDr. E. Kurča, PhD.
2 Clinic for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Martin, Jessenius Medical Faculty in Martin, Commenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, head prof. P. Bánovčin, PhD.
Cite:
BALLOVA J., OLEKSAK F., SIVAK S., NOSAL V., KURCA E., GROFIK M: Interactions of plasma homocysteine levels with motor subtypes and treatment options in Parkinson disease. Lek Obz, 2021, 70 (10): 338-342
