atrial-natriuretic-factor and Parkinson-Disease

W. Kostowski's The Pathomechanism and Pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's Disease was published in 1987. M. Weissel's Thyroid Gland Hormones Can Affect the Plasma Level of Atrial Urinary Sodium Peptide in Man was issued in Die Schilddruse in 1987. The following articles were published in the New England Journal of Medicine: 1. Madrazo's Microsurgical Graft of Adrenal Medulla to the Right Caudate Nucleus in Two Patients with Intractable Parkinson's Disease in 1987. R. Noore's Parkinson's Disease--A New Therapy? in 1987. F. Needelman's A Cardiac Hormone Intimately Involved in Fluid, Electrolyte, and Blood Pressure Homeostasis in 1986. G. Dersy's Arterial Endocrine Function in Humans with Artificial Hearts in 1987. W. Crowley's Progesterone Antagonism in 1986. B. Couzinet's Termination of Early Pregnancy by the Progesterone Antagonist RU-486 (Mifepristone) in 1986. Progesterone is indispensable for the maintenance of pregnancy; its elimination results in abortion. The progesterone antagonist RU-486, or mifepristone, which is a 19-nonsteroid, has been used lately for early pregnancy termination. A group of French and American authors conducted a study of 100 women with early unwanted pregnancy during 10 days following the end of expected menstruation. 34 women received 400 mg of RU-486 in the course of 4 days, 26 got 600 mg also in the course 4 days, and 40 women received 800 mg within 2 days. Uterine bleeding appeared in all women in the course of 4 days from the moment of giving the drug, and it lasted 5-17 days. A clear reduction of gonadotropin concentration was observed after 6 days. Ultrasound showed empty uterus within 13 days from the use of the drug. In 15 women after receiving RU-486, the increased level of gonadotropin lasted beyond 6 days, which was indicative of the lack of action of RU-486. In this group of women the uterine cavity was evacuated by nonpharmacological methods. The drug was safe and effective, although 15% of women did not react to it and significant prolonged bleeding occurred in 18% of them.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Adrenal Medulla; Adult; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Caudate Nucleus; Diuresis; Female; Humans; Mifepristone; Parkinson Disease; Pregnancy; Transplantation, Heterotopic

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Exosomes; Mice; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Parkinson Disease

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