Objective: To assess the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum of patients with PD and its relation to motor symptoms.

Background: Participation of inflammatory mechanisms in the development and progression of motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are not well understood.

Methods: The level of IL-6 was measured in 65 patients with PD, 18 healthy control persons of the same age. The average continuance of illness was 4 (2-5) years. Stage of disease on a scale Hoen – Yahr was 2.5 (2-2.5). Motor disturbances was assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).

Results: The level of IL-6 in patients with PD was 2 times higher than that of the control group (respectively 0.6; 0.2-1.2 pg ml and 0.3; 0,0-0,8 pg ml). At the stage of clinical manifestations, revealed a positive correlation between the concentration of IL-6 in the serum and the following points of UPDRS: postural disturbances (R = 0,36, p = 0.017), walking (R = 0,30, p = 0.046), posture (R = 0.32, p = 0.038), the total score of III part of the scale (R = 0.32, p = 0.034), total bradykinesia (R = 0.45, p = 0.001), the total score on a scale (R = 0 44, p = 0.003).

Conclusions: PD patients have significantly higher serum concentrations of IL -6 compared to the control group which, together with the regularities of increasing the concentration of serum IL-6 with increasing severity of axial symptoms and other motor signs, confirms involvement of inflammation in the mechanisms of PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/il-6-and-motor-symptoms-in-parkinsons-disease/