Age and duration related changes in muscle sympathetic nerve activity in Parkinson’s disease

Objective: To clarify the characteristics of sympathetic vasomotor function in Parkinson's disease by sympathetic neurographic analysis. Methods: Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded using a microneurographic technique at rest and during head up tilt in 18 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and 21 healthy controls. Results: Heart rate and blood pressure at rest did not differ between index and control subjects. The increase in these variables and MSNA in response to tilting was slightly blunted in the Parkinson's group. Resting MSNA showed a negative correlation with age in patients with Parkinson's disease (p<0.05) and a positive correlation with age in controls (p<0.01). There was a negative correlation between duration of disease or disability levels and MSNA (p<0.01). Conclusions: Sympathetic vasomotor function may be related to age and disease duration in Parkinson's disease.