atrial-natriuretic-factor and Foot-Diseases

Edema in Parkinson's disease has been considered to be caused by autonomic nervous system dysfunctions, however little is still known about the exact pathophysiological mechanism involved. In this study, we focused on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in Parkinson's disease to elucidate the relationship between foot edema and plasma ANP levels. Thirty four cases of Parkinson's disease were studied. Plasma ANP levels were measured using the radioimmunoassay method. The incidence of foot edema in Parkinson's disease was approximately 30% of the cases studied, with a tendency to be more common in patients in the Yahr stages II and III groups. Predilection sites of the edema were observed from the pretibial to dorsal pedis of both lower thighs, especially on the side most severely affected by the disease. Onset of the edema was difficult to clarify because almost all of the patients with foot edema did not notice the edema by themselves. There was no clear relationship between edema and L-DOPA treatment of Parkinson's disease. For treatment of the edema, oral administration of Furosemide was effective in many cases, however the efficacy tended to gradually decrease. Plasma ANP levels in each age group of the Parkinson's disease cases were statistically high when compared to the values of the age-matched normal volunteers. Plasma ANP levels in the patients with foot edema were also significantly high when compared with the edema-free patients (p less than 0.001), however no relationships were found between plasma ANP levels, age and duration of the illness. It is known that plasma ANP is a cardiac hormone with fluid volume-reducing and vasodilating functions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Edema; Female; Foot Diseases; Humans; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease