Correlation of autonomic dysfunction to CSF concentrations of noradrenaline and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol in Parkinson's disease.

In order to study the role of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline (NA) and its main brain metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in autonomic failure in Parkinson's disease (PD), an analysis of the relation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NA and MHPG levels and a rating of autonomic nervous system (ANS) impairment was carried out. The mean baseline NA level in CSF of PD patients was 220.0 +/- 110.0 pg/ml, and the mean baseline MHPG level 9.9 +/- 3.9 ng/ml. These levels did not differ from those of age-matched controls. Within the group of patients with PD neither the duration of the disease nor its medication influenced the results. No correlation could be found in patients with PD between the CSF NA levels and the severity of autonomic failure, but a clear correlation was found between the CSF MHPG concentrations and the severity of autonomic failure.