Session Information
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Session Title: Physiology and Pathophysiology
Session Time: 1:15pm-2:45pm
Location: Les Muses, Level 3
Objective: 1) to examine circulatory serotonin, beta-endorphin and the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) in people with PD, 2) to explore the relationship of the circulatory levels of these biomarkers with the perceived pain sensation in people with PD.
Background: Serotonin, beta endorphin and dopamine are all important neurotransmitters for pain modulations, which all are diminished in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, little is known about the circulatory levels of these biomarkers as well as the relationship of these pain-related biomarkers with perceived pain sensation in people with PD.
Method: Plasma levels of serotonin, beta endorphin and homovanillic acid (HVA) (a metabolite of dopamine) were measured in 24 idiopathic PD subjects and 23 age- matched healthy controls using ELISA technique. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) short form and King’s PD Pain Scale (KPPS).
Results: There were significant differences in plasma biomarker levels between the PD and control groups, as well as a significant increase in each of the plasma biomarker levels from OFF to ON conditions (P<0.05). In addition, fluctuation-related pain in the KPPS and plasma HVA levels in the “ON” condition (rho = -0.589, p = 0.002). In addition, there was significant correlations between fluctuation-related pain in the KPPS and plasma beta-endorphin levels in the “OFF” condition (rho = 0.437, p = 0.033) as well as between fluctuation-related pain in the KPPS and plasma HVA levels in the “ON” condition (rho = -0.589, p = 0.002).
Conclusion: PD pathology affects each biomarker which may be the cause of increased pain sensation in this population. There was an important interaction between plasma levels of HVA and beta-endorphin and pain in the PD group, suggesting that these are potential biomarkers for pain in PD. Consequently, increasing the plasma levels of these biomarkers could decrease pain sensation in people with PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
H. Khalil, N. Al-Yahya, A. Al-Sharman, M. Alqudah, K. El-Salem. The Circulatory Levels of Serotonin, Beta endorphin and Dopamine and their relations to Pain Perception in People with Parkinson’s Disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2019; 34 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-circulatory-levels-of-serotonin-beta-endorphin-and-dopamine-and-their-relations-to-pain-perception-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2019 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-circulatory-levels-of-serotonin-beta-endorphin-and-dopamine-and-their-relations-to-pain-perception-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease/