IS SEBORRHEA A SIGN OF AUTONOMIC IMPAIRMENT IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

An increase of sebum excretion rate (SER) is frequently observed in pa tients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD). Some authors attribute it to the hyperactivity of the parasympathetic system, while others c onsider the possible action of androgens or of MSH-hormone. The aim of our study was to verify and quantify SER in 70 parkinsonian patients and compare it with SER in 60 normal subjects. We found higher values of SER in male subjects, both in normal and in parkinsonian patients. The highest rate of excretion was observed in parkinsonian males, in a greement with the possible main role of androgens or testosterone in s ebum excretion, while the phenomenon did not appear to be related to a bnormalities of the autonomic nervous system. The association of PD an d sex hormones might therefore be crucial for the developing of seborr hea.