Session Information
Date: Monday, June 5, 2017
Session Title: Parkinson's Disease: Non-Motor Symptoms
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: Objective: We sought to examine the association between Parkinson disease (PD) associated polyneuropathy (PD-PNP) and levodopa dose, age, and disease duration in a cross-sectional, multi-center pilot study.
Background: Background: PNP is a frequent yet underestimated feature of PD, with an overall prevalence of 19-55%, as compared to 8-9% of controls [1]. Although the iatrogenic effects of levodopa may play a role in the development of PD-PNP, there may also be a direct role for neurodegenerative mechanisms in the peripheral nervous system [2].
Methods: Methods: We screened 200 consecutive PD patients from three specialized Movement Disorder Centers excluding those with alternative causes of peripheral neuropathy or taking medications affecting the autonomic nervous system (n=39). Patients enrolled (n=161) underwent the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), four-limb nerve conduction studies, orthostatic blood pressure measurements, selected laboratory investigations (Vitamin B12, Homocysteine, and Folate), and a battery of cognitive (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), non-motor (Non-Motor Symptoms Scale), and autonomic (Scale for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease-Autonomic) assessments.
Results: Results: PD-PNP was identified in 29.2% of patients. After adjusting for levodopa equivalent daily dose, age, and disease duration, PD-PNP was independently associated with cognitive impairment (p=0.008), autonomic dysfunction (p=0.035), non-motor symptoms (p=0.042), and axial motor features (p=0.045) compared with patients without PD-PNP.
Conclusions: Conclusions:
PD-PNP may represent a peripheral marker of severe PD, characterized by worse axial symptoms, autonomic dysfunction, and cognitive impairment.
References: [1] Toth C, Breithaupt K, Ge S, et al. Levodopa, methylmalonic acid, and neuropathy in idiopathic Parkinson disease. Annals of Neurology 2010;68:28-36.
[2] Comi C, Magistrelli L, Oggioni GD, et al. Peripheral nervous system involvement in Parkinson’s disease: evidence and controversies. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2014;20:1329-1334.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Rosso, A. Merola, A. Romagnolo, C. Comi, A. Fasano, M. Zibetti, R. Lopez-Castellanos, D. Cocito, L. Lopiano, A. Espay. Parkinson Disease-Associated Polyneuropathy: A Biomarker of Disease Severity? [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/parkinson-disease-associated-polyneuropathy-a-biomarker-of-disease-severity/. Accessed July 4, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/parkinson-disease-associated-polyneuropathy-a-biomarker-of-disease-severity/