Session Information
Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Session Title: Pathophysiology
Session Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impairment of neuronal energy metabolism, as measured by means of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate levels, in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and thus evaluate a possible relationship with the disease progression.
Background: Since the late 1970’s, PD has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, however up to date experimental data are still controversial, and there are scarce clinical proofs about the role of mitochondria impairment in PD pathology. Moreover, studies dealing with the opportunity to assess and correlate mitochondrial dysfunction and patient clinical features or motor disabilities are lacking.
Methods: In this study we measured CSF lactate concentrations in a population of PD patients ranging from mild to moderate-severe disease stage (Hoehn & Yahr – H&Y- between 1 and 5). PD patients were compared to healthy controls and vascular parkinsonism (VaP) patients.
Results: PD patients (n=91) showed a significant increase of CSF lactate concentrations compared to both healthy controls (n=60, p< 0.05) 
and VaD patients (n=29, p<0.05). Dividing patients in 3 subgroups on the basis of their H&Y stage, we documented the progressive increase of CSF lactate levels in PD patients with higher disease severity (H&Y: 3-5, n=18) compared to both patients featured by H&Y stage of 2-2.5 (p<0.05, n=41) and patients with H&Y stage of 1-1.5 (p<0.05, n=32) 
.
Conclusions: We verified the occurrence of high CSF lactate levels in PD patients, which may be ascribed to mitochondria impairment. Taking into account that CSF lactate levels may be the expression of mitochondria inefficiency, we hypothesize that mitochondria may be gradually impaired in PD patients as the disease progresses. Therefore, we propose the clinical potential of assessing CSF lactate levels in PD patients to better define the neuronal brain metabolism damage.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
C. Liguori, A. Stefani, E. Olivola, N.B. Mercuri, M. Pierantozzi. Increased cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels in Parkison’s disease: Is it a proof of mitochondrial inefficiency? [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/increased-cerebrospinal-fluid-lactate-levels-in-parkisons-disease-is-it-a-proof-of-mitochondrial-inefficiency/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2016 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/increased-cerebrospinal-fluid-lactate-levels-in-parkisons-disease-is-it-a-proof-of-mitochondrial-inefficiency/