Objective: To examine plasma iron metabolism related indicators in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and investigate the mechanism underlying the tremor-dominant phenotype of PD.

Background: Although tremor was observed by James Parkinson 200 years ago, the mechanisms underlying it has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: Seventy-six PD patients were recruited and thirty-six of them were classified into the tremor-dominant PD (TD-PD) group and forty into the nontremor dominant PD (NT-PD) group, as determined by the tremor score. Plasma iron metabolism related indicators were assayed, with plasma iron (Fe) levels measured by 2, 4, 6-tri-(2-pyridyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine (TPTZ) measurement, ceruloplasmin (CP) by immune transmission turbidimetry assay, transferrin (TRF) by scatter turbidimetry method and ferritin by chemiluminescence assay. Spearman’s correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used for further study.

Results: PD patients exhibited lower plasma iron level (p=0.007) and higher TRF level (p<0.001) than healthy controls, with no significant difference in CP and ferritin. Furthermore, higher plasma TRF level was associated with the TD-PD but not with the NT-PD (p=0.043). Multiple linear regression demonstrated significant associations of plasma TRF level with severity of tremor (p=0.009), independently from other confounding factors.

Conclusions: As risk factors of PD, the elevated transferrin level, combining with decreased plasma iron level may be given considerable weight in the recognition of parkinsonian tremor.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/plasma-transferrin-level-correlates-with-the-tremor-dominant-phenotype-of-parkinsons-disease/