ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the topography of thermographic characteristics and compliance with the degree of asymmetry of motor and thermometric characteristics of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 45 patients with PD (stage 1-3) according to the Hoehn and Yahr scale. The patients were divided into two groups: a right-sided group (n=27) and a left-sided one (n=18). The groups were matched for age, disease type and duration, and symptom severity. All the patients in the study group underwent thermography investigation. RESULTS: Lower temperature values were noted on the more affected side (p<0.05) only in patients with left-sided predominance of symptoms (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This result may suggest that left-sided PD patients have more frequent thermoregulation dysfunction, but further research is needed to investigate the relationship between thermoregulation and motor asymmetry.
Subject(s)
Parkinson Disease , Humans , Body Temperature RegulationABSTRACT
Thermoregulatory dysfunction is considered to be the least investigated among all the autonomic disorders in Parkinson disease. Pathophysiological mechanisms of this phenomena involve as central, as peripheric parts of nervous system. Dopamine deficiency in combination with peripheric autonomic dysfunction leads to temperature balance disturbance, which may be expressed by various clinical symptoms. Dopaminergic innervation of preoptic-anterior hypothalamus area plays a crucial role in thermoregulation function of central nervous system. Current thermoregulatory tests give possibility not only to reveal sudomotor and heat dissipation disorders in patients with Parkinson disease, but also to make differential diagnosis with other neurodegenerative disorders. Early detection and treatment of thermoregulatory dysfunction may improve quality of life in patients with Parkinson disease.
Subject(s)
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases , Parkinson Disease , Body Temperature Regulation , Dopamine , Humans , Quality of LifeABSTRACT
The asymmetry of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) reflects the asymmetry of the degenerative process and death of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which is confirmed by the data of functional neuroimaging. This review discusses a possible effect of the asymmetry of substantia nigra lesions on other PD symptoms, primarily neuropsychological functions. The authors summarize the data obtained in a comparative analysis of cognitive impairments in PD patients with right-sided and left-sided predominance of motor symptoms. The association between the asymmetry of motor and cognitive symptoms indicates the variability of the profile of cognitive impairments in PD, as well as an important modulating role of subcortical structures on neuropsychological functions traditionally referred to as cortical. The effect of lateralization of symptoms on cognitive function should be considered when evaluating and treating PD patients.
