CSF AND PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS OF FREE NOREPINEPHRINE, DOPAMINE, 3,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYLACETIC ACID (DOPAC), 3,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE (DOPA), AND EPINEPHRINE IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

To investigate endogenous cerebrospinal fluid catecholamines in Parkin son's disease. Material and methods - Basal concentrations of free nor epinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), epinephrine (E), 3,4-dihydroxyphenyla cetic acid (DOPAC) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) in cerebrospi nal fluid (csf) and plasma were measured using reverse-phase HPLC with electrochemical detection in 16 patients with Parkinson's disease and 21 control patients with low back pain. Results Parkinsonian patients had significantly decreased values of csf NE and DOPAC, the strong re lationship between plasma and csf NE was disrupted and neither was the re any age related increase of plasma NE. In 1-DOPA treated patients p lasma DA and DOPA concentrations were raised and csf DOPAC values were inversely related to severity of disease (Hoehn and Yahr score). Csf E concentrations were also reduced in parkinsonian patients whereas cs f DA concentrations were unchanged. Csf DOPA concentrations were insig nificantly decreased in parkinsonian patients. Conclusions - These res ults point towards a diffuse neuronal dysfunction in Parkinson's disea se and indicate that lumbar csf NE and csf DOPAC are of central nervou s origin.