Sweating Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Sweating was measured with an evaporimeter in 5 different positions on both sides of the body in 23 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and in 11 age-matched control subjects before and after a heating stimulus. Perspiration was increased significantly both before and after the heating provocation in the upper part of the body (the forehead, chest and forearm) of Parkinson patients in comparison with the control subjects (p < 0.05). The increase of perspiration correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with the severity of Parkinson’s disease as estimated by the Webster scale. The results indicate wide and clear autonomic nervous system dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease.

Autonomic Dysfunction in Men with Parkinson’s Disease

“…35], Direct involvement of colonic ganglionic cells by con centric hyaline inclusions reminiscent of Lewy bodies have been reported in such cases. Finally, degenerative changes, including intraneuronal Lewy bodies in hypo thalamus, brain stem, sympathetic ganglia and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, have also been postu lated to account for the disturbances in lower gastrointes tinal motility [34], None of our patients or controls complained of rectal incontinence or diarrhea confirming our clinical impres sion that diarrhea is not a symptom of PD. PD patients who complain of these symptoms should be evaluated for causes other than PD (e.g.…”

“…We cannot rule out, however, the possibility that most PD patients with objective sweating abnormalities remain asymptom atic since many of the cited reports of hyperhidrosis [7,34,35] made no attempt at clinical correlation.…”

“…Physical inactivity, weakness of the abdominal mus cles and the effects of anticholinergic drugs play a role in the pathogenesis of constipation and megacolon in PD [34]. Dopamine agonists which act directly on dopamine receptors on smooth muscle have been implicated as a contributing factor [35].…”

“…Additional reports in the literature document objective sweating abnormalities in PD demonstrating that a signif icant number of patients suffer from anhidrosis in the lower parts of the body and hyperhidrosis -possibly com pensatory -over the forehead and neck [7,34,35], A cor relation between severity of PD and increased evapora tion rates has been noted [34] as well as correction when the lcvodopa effect was maximal ('on') [35]. We cannot rule out, however, the possibility that most PD patients with objective sweating abnormalities remain asymptom atic since many of the cited reports of hyperhidrosis [7,34,35] made no attempt at clinical correlation.…”

Hyperhidrosis as a reflection of autonomic failure in patients with acute hemispheral brain infarction. An evaporimetric study.

“…This gradient is proportional to the amount of water vapor passing through the boundary layer per unit time and area. Previously this method has been found useful in studying sweating disturbances in patients with e.g., parkinsonism 10 and cluster headache.…”