Objective: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress in peripheral blood in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Parkinson plus syndrome (PPS).

Background: Slight excess of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) pose a plethora of threats to cells of the body-particularly CNS neurons. This is because CNS neurons produce higher ROS, have less antioxidants and systemic antioxidants have limited ability to cross blood brain barrier. Oxidative damage to biomolecules, therefore, lead to neurodegenerative syndrome by apoptosis.

Methods: After ethical approval, participants were recruited. Inclusion criteria were: Group I i) age > 40 years of all disease stages. Exclusion criteria were i) significant dementia, depression/psychiatric illness (according to DSM-IV), ii) all the secondary causes of parkinsonism, iv) history of stroke, v) significant head injury and vi) exposure to antipsychotic medication. In Group II (PPS), inclusion criteria were: i) age > 40 years, ii) PPS according to consensus criteria for MSA and NINDS for PSP iii) features not typical of PD. Group III (healthy controls): the recruitment of this group was made from the healthy population of the institute employees and spouses of the patients. A total of 160 participants were recruited in this study. 80 in Group I, 40 in Group II and 40 in Group III. The overall oxidative stress was measured by chemiluminescence method using luminol. Readings were recorded every 30 seconds for 15 minutes and the results were expressed as RLU/sec/cell. The data were subjected to statistical analysis and p-value < 0.05 was considered to be significant.

Results: The median (Min-Max) ROS level in Group-I, Group II and Group III was 14.13 (1.9-220.02), 17.43 (2.22-75.74) and 7.53 (0.22-74.08) respectively. There was no significant difference in ROS levels between Group I and II (p= 0.84). However, a significant difference in ROS levels was observed between Group I vs III (p= 0.0029) and Group II vs III (p= 0.0555). It is important to mention that ROS was higher in both Group I and Group II as compared to Group III.

Conclusions: Oxidative stress may be a pivotal processes in PD and PPS pathogenesis. Whether oxidative stress is a cause or an effect is still not clear but addressing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction (seat for ROS production) by proper antioxidant therapy may form an adjunct to the mainstream management in PD and PPS.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluation-of-the-role-of-oxidative-stress-in-parkinsons-disease-and-parkinson-plus-syndrome/