Ambulatory blood pressure in patients with Parkinson's disease without and with orthostatic hypotension

Wearable multimodal sensing for quantifying the cardiovascular autonomic effects of levodopa in parkinsonism

Levodopa is the most common therapy to reduce motor symptoms of parkinsonism. However, levodopa has potential to exacerbate cardiovascular autonomic (CVA) dysfunction that may co-occur in patients. Heart rate variability (HRV) is the most common method for assessing CVA function, but broader monitoring of CVA function and levodopa effects is typically limited to clinical settings and symptom reporting, which fail to capture its holistic nature. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of a multimodal wearable chest patch for monitoring changes in CVA function during clinical and 24-h ambulatory (at home) conditions in 14 patients: 11 with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 3 with multiple system atrophy (MSA). In-clinic data were analyzed to examine the effects of orally administered levodopa on CVA function using a pre (OFF) and 60-min (ON) post-exposure protocol. Wearable-derived physiological markers related to the electrical and mechanical activity of the heart alongside vascular function were extracted. Pre-ejection period (PEP) and ratio of PEP to left ventricular ejection time index (LVETi) increased significantly (p < 0.05) following levodopa, indicating a decrease in cardiac contractility. We further explored dose-response relationships and how CVA responses differed between participants with orthostatic hypotension (OH) from those without OH. Heart rate variability, specifically root-mean-square-of-successive-differences (RMSSD), following levodopa decreased significantly more in participants with OH (n = 7) compared to those without (no-OH, n = 7). The results suggest that the wearable patch's measures are sensitive to CVA dynamics and provide exploratory insights into levodopa's potential role in inducing a negative inotropic effect and exacerbating CVA dysfunction. This work encourages further evaluation of these wearable-derived physiomarkers for quantifying CVA and informing individualized care of individuals with parkinsonism.

Altered sleep and neurovascular dysfunction in alpha-synucleinopathies: the perfect storm for glymphatic failure

Clinical and cognitive progression in alpha-synucleinopathies is highly heterogeneous. While some patients remain stable over long periods of time, other suffer early dementia or fast motor deterioration. Sleep disturbances and nocturnal blood pressure abnormalities have been identified as independent risk factors for clinical progression but a mechanistic explanation linking both aspects is lacking. We hypothesize that impaired glymphatic system might play a key role on clinical progression. Glymphatic system clears brain waste during specific sleep stages, being blood pressure the motive force that propels the interstitial fluid through brain tissue to remove protein waste. Thus, the combination of severe sleep alterations, such as REM sleep behavioral disorder, and lack of the physiological nocturnal decrease of blood pressure due to severe dysautonomia may constitute the perfect storm for glymphatic failure, causing increased abnormal protein aggregation and spreading. In Lewy body disorders (Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies) the increment of intraneuronal alpha-synuclein and extracellular amyloid-β would lead to cognitive deterioration, while in multisystemic atrophy, increased pathology in oligodendroglia would relate to the faster and malignant motor progression. We present a research model that may help in developing studies aiming to elucidate the role of glymphatic function and associated factors mainly in alpha-synucleinopathies, but that could be relevant also for other protein accumulation-related neurodegenerative diseases. If the model is proven to be useful could open new lines for treatments targeting glymphatic function (for example through control of nocturnal blood pressure) with the objective to ameliorate cognitive and motor progression in alpha-synucleinopathies.

The multimodal effect of circadian interventions in Parkinson's disease: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

The circadian system and its dysfunction in persons with Parkinson's disease (PwP) has a clear impact on both motor and non-motor symptoms. Examples include circadian patterns in motor disability, with worsening of symptoms throughout the day, but also the existence of similar patterns in non-motor symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

In this narrative review, we discuss the role of the circadian system, we address the role of dopamine in this system, and we summarise the evidence that supports the use of circadian system treatments for motor and non-motor symptoms in PwP.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed and Web of Science database was performed and the final search was performed in November 2021. We included articles whose primary aim was to investigate the effect of melatonin, melatonin agonists, and light therapy in PwP.

RESULTS

In total 25 articles were retrieved. Of these, 12 were related to bright light therapy and 13 to melatonin or/and melatonin agonists. Most, but not all, studies showed that melatonin and melatonin agonists and light therapy induced improvements in measures of sleep, depression, motor function, and some also cognitive function and other non-motor symptoms. For some of these outcomes, including daytime sleepiness, depressive symptoms, and some motor symptoms, there is level 2 B evidence for the use of circadian treatments in PwP.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with bright light therapy, exogenous melatonin and melatonin agonists seems to have not only positive effects on sleep quality and depression but also on motor function in PwP. Drawbacks in earlier work include the relatively small number of participants and the heterogeneity of outcome measures. Further large and well-designed trials are needed to address these shortcomings and to confirm or refute the possible merits of the circadian system as a treatment target in PwP.

Neurodegenerative diseases and blood pressure variability: A comprehensive review from HOPE Asia

Asia has an enormous number of older people and is the primary contributor to the rise in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The therapy of many neurodegenerative diseases has not yet progressed to the point where it is possible to alter the course of the disease. Mid-life hypertension is an important predictor of later-life cognitive impairment and brain neurodegenerative conditions. These findings highlight the pivotal role of preventing and managing hypertension as a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease. Autonomic dysfunction, neuropsychiatric and sleep disturbances can arise in neurodegenerative diseases, resulting in blood pressure variability (BPV). The BPV itself can worsen the progression of the disease. In older people with neurodegenerative disease and hypertension, it is critical to consider 24-h blood pressure monitoring and personalized blood pressure therapy.

Blood Pressure Patterns in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is a non-motor feature in Parkinson’s disease with negative impact on functionality and life expectancy, prompting early detection and proper management. We aimed to describe the blood pressure patterns reported in patients with Parkinson’s disease, as measured by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic search on the PubMed database. Studies enrolling patients with Parkinson’s disease undergoing 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were included. Data regarding study population, Parkinson’s disease course, vasoactive drugs, blood pressure profiles, and measurements were recorded. (3) Results: The search identified 172 studies. Forty studies eventually fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with 3090 patients enrolled. Abnormal blood pressure profiles were commonly encountered: high blood pressure in 38.13% of patients (938/2460), orthostatic hypotension in 38.68% (941/2433), supine hypertension in 27.76% (445/1603) and nocturnal hypertension in 38.91% (737/1894). Dipping status was also altered often, 40.46% of patients (477/1179) being reverse dippers and 35.67% (310/869) reduced dippers. All these patterns were correlated with negative clinical and imaging outcomes. (4) Conclusion: Patients with Parkinson’s disease have significantly altered blood pressure patterns that carry a negative prognosis. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be validated as a biomarker of PD-associated cardiovascular dysautonomia and a tool for assisting therapeutic interventions.

Nocturnal blood pressure changes in Parkinson's disease: correlation with autonomic dysfunction and vitamin D levels

Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) changes are an indicator of autonomic dysfunction. We aim to investigate the correlation between nocturnal blood pressure (BP) variability, vitamin D levels and Parkinson's disease severity (PD) in this study. Thirty-five patients with PD participated in the study. Disease severity was evaluated by United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Hoehn and Yahr Scale (HYS). Equivalent levodopa dose was calculated and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured. The Non-Motor Symptom Questionnaire (NMSQ) was applied to all patients. Ambulatory BP monitoring for 24 h was established. Patients were divided into three groups according to nocturnal BP results: dippers (normal finding-a decline in mean nighttime BP of more than 10%); non-dippers (pathological-a decline in mean nighttime BP of less than 10%); reverse dippers (pathological-an increase in mean nighttime BP) .The mean score of the NMSQ was higher in the group with HYS > 2 (p = 0.050). Four patients were dipper, 17 patients were non-dipper and 16 patients were reverse dipper. There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of age, gender, disease duration, age of the disease onset, disease stage, disease duration, dopamine agonist usage, levodopa equivalent dose, vitamin D level and NMSQ scores. NMSQ scores are high in advanced PD. Ambulatory BP monitoring is useful in detecting autonomic dysfunction. The number of patients with non-dipping and reverse dipping is high in PD, independent from PD severity, drug dose, vitamin D and the other NMS symptoms.

Role of nurses and nurse practitioners in the recognition, diagnosis, and management of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: a narrative review

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is a sustained reduction in blood pressure (BP) upon standing that is caused by autonomic dysfunction and is common among patients with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders (eg, Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure). A systolic BP drop of ≥20 mmHg (or ≥10 mmHg diastolic) upon standing with little or no compensatory increase in heart rate is consistent with nOH. Symptoms of nOH include light-headedness, dizziness, presyncope, and syncope; these symptoms can severely impact patients' activities of daily living and increase the likelihood of potentially dangerous falls. Because of their patient contact, nurses and nurse practitioners can play a key role in identifying and evaluating patients at risk for nOH. It is advisable to screen for nOH in patients presenting with one or more of the following characteristics: those who have disorders associated with autonomic failure, those with episodes of falls or syncope, those with symptoms upon standing, those who are elderly or frail, or those taking multiple medications. Initial evaluations should include questions about postural symptoms and measurement of orthostatic BP and heart rate. A review of medications for potential agents that can have hypotensive effects should be performed before initiating treatment. Treatment for nOH may include non-pharmacologic measures and pharmacologic therapy. Droxidopa and midodrine are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of symptomatic nOH and symptomatic OH, respectively. nOH is associated with the coexistence of supine hypertension, and the two disorders must be carefully managed. In conclusion, timely screening and diagnosis of patients with nOH can streamline the path to disease management and treatment, potentially improving patient outcomes.

An overview of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease

Sleep and circadian alterations are amongst the very first symptoms experienced in Parkinson's disease, and sleep alterations are present in the majority of patients with overt clinical manifestation of Parkinson's disease. However, the magnitude of sleep and circadian dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, and its influence on the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease remains often unclear and a matter of debate. In particular, the confounding influences of dopaminergic therapy on sleep and circadian dysfunction are a major challenge, and need to be more carefully addressed in clinical studies. The scope of this narrative review is to summarise the current knowledge around both sleep and circadian alterations in Parkinson's disease. We provide an overview on the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, restless legs, obstructive apnea and nocturia in Parkinson's disease, as well as addressing sleep structure, rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder and circadian features in Parkinson's disease. Sleep and circadian disorders have been linked to pathological conditions that are often co-morbid in Parkinson's disease, including cognitive decline, memory impairment and neurodegeneration. Therefore, targeting sleep and circadian alterations could be one of the earliest and most promising opportunities to slow disease progression. We hope that this review will contribute to advance the discussion and inform new research efforts to progress our knowledge in this field.

Cognitive fluctuations in Parkinson's disease dementia: blood pressure lability as an underlying mechanism

Background

Cognitive fluctuations refer to alterations in cognition, attention, or arousal occurring over minutes to hours, most commonly in patients with dementias associated with advanced Lewy body pathology. Their pathophysiologic underpinning remains undetermined.

Case presentation

We documented serial blood pressure (BP) measurements in an 86-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease dementia experiencing cognitive fluctuations during an office visit. This patient’s associated dysautonomia included labile BP with orthostatic hypotension and nocturnal hypertension. A spontaneous episode of unresponsiveness occurred while his BP was 72/48. His mental status began to recover immediately as his BP increased to 84/56 when he was placed in a recumbent position; it fully returned to baseline when it reached 124/66 within 1 min. His heart rate remained in the mid-to-high 60s throughout. Subsequent treatment with midodrine markedly reduced the frequency of cognitive fluctuations.

Conclusions

Paroxysmal hypotension may represent an explanatory mechanism for cognitive fluctuations, a common clinical feature in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

CLOCK 3111T/C Variant Correlates with Motor Fluctuation and Sleep Disorders in Chinese Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Background

The clock genes controlling biological rhythm play an important role in the pathophysiology of aging. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between a variant of the circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) gene and circadian dysfunction of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods

Six hundred and forty-six cases of Parkinson's disease from consecutive outpatients and inpatients ward from our hospital were included in this study. Kompetitive allele-specific PCR was used to determine the frequency distribution of genotypes and alleles. The examinations for the PD group were assessed in person in order to evaluate motor symptoms, cognitive function, sleep, and depression, including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17).

Results

Motor fluctuation (P < 0.001) and sleep disorders (P=0.007) were significantly different between the two groups. These correlations persisted after adjusting for confounding risk factors by further binary logistic regression analysis, suggesting that the CLOCK 3111T/C variant was associated with motor fluctuation (OR = 1.080, P < 0.001) and a subjective sleep disorder (OR = 1.130, P=0.037).

Conclusion

The CLOCK 3111T/C variant can be an independent risk factor for motor fluctuation and sleep disorder in Parkinson's disease.

Evidence-based treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and related symptoms

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, postprandial hypotension and exercise-induced hypotension are common features of cardiovascular autonomic failure. Despite the serious impact on patient’s quality of life, evidence-based guidelines for non-pharmacological and pharmacological management are lacking at present. Here, we provide a systematic review of the literature on therapeutic options for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and related symptoms with evidence-based recommendations according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Patient’s education and non-pharmacological measures remain essential, with strong recommendation for use of abdominal binders. Based on quality of evidence and safety issues, midodrine and droxidopa reach a strong recommendation level for pharmacological treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. In selected cases, a range of alternative agents can be considered (fludrocortisone, pyridostigmine, yohimbine, atomoxetine, fluoxetine, ergot alkaloids, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, octreotide, indomethacin, ibuprofen, caffeine, methylphenidate and desmopressin), though recommendation strength is weak and quality of evidence is low (atomoxetine, octreotide) or very low (fludrocortisone, pyridostigmine, yohimbine, fluoxetine, ergot alkaloids, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, indomethacin, ibuprofen, caffeine, methylphenidate and desmopressin). In case of severe postprandial hypotension, acarbose and octreotide are recommended (strong recommendation, moderate level of evidence). Alternatively, voglibose or caffeine, for which a weak recommendation is available, may be useful.

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension in Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies: prioritisation of treatment targets

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension are common manifestations of cardiovascular dysautonomia in Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies. Because these disorders are haemodynamic opposites, improvement in one might be achieved at the expense of worsening of the other. Thus, management decisions necessitate assessment of the individual risks for patients with coexistent neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension. Whereas neurogenic orthostatic hypotension poses risks for falls and can be associated with cognitive impairment in the short term, chronic supine hypertension can be associated with stroke and myocardial infarction in the long term. Because few clinical trial data exist for outcomes in patients with coexistent neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension, clinicians need to balance, on the basis of comorbidities and disease staging, the potential immediate benefits of treatment for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and the long-term risks of supine hypertension treatment in each patient. Future research needs to focus on ascertaining a safe degree of supine hypertension when treating neurogenic orthostatic hypotension; the effectiveness of nocturnal antihypertensive therapy in patients with coexistent neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension; and the prevalence, scope, and therapeutic requirements for managing neurogenic orthostatic hypotension that manifests with falls or cognitive impairment, but without postural lightheadedness or near syncope.

Patients with Parkinson disease present high ambulatory blood pressure variability

Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) present blunted nocturnal blood pressure fall and similar ambulatory blood pressure variability (ABPV) measured by standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) compared with healthy subjects. However, these classical indices of ABPV have limited validity in individuals with circadian blood pressure alterations. New indices, such as the average of daytime and night-time standard deviation weighted by the duration of the daytime and night-time intervals (SD_dn ) and the average real variability (ARV), remove the influence of the daytime and the night-time periods on ABPV. This study assessed ABPV by SD_dn and ARV in PD. Twenty-one patients with PD (11 men, 66 ± 2 years, stages 2-3 of modified Hoehn & Yahr) and 21 matched controls without Parkinson disease (9 men, 64 ± 1 years old) underwent blood pressure monitoring for 24 h. ABPV was analysed by 24 h, daytime and night-time SD and CV, and by the SD_dn and ARV. Systolic/diastolic 24-h and night-time SD and CV were similar between the patients with PD and the controls. The patients with PD presented higher daytime systolic/diastolic CV and SD than the controls (10·4 ± 0·9/12·3 ± 0·8 versus 7·0 ± 0·3/9·9 ± 0·5%, P<0·05; 12·6 ± 1·0/9·1 ± 0·5 versus 8·6 ± 0·4/7·5 ± 0·3 mmHg, P<0·05, respectively) as well as higher systolic/diastolic SD_dn (10·9 ± 0·8/8·2 ± 0·5 versus 8·2 ± 0·3/7·1 ± 0·2 mmHg, P<0·05, respectively) and ARV (8·8 ± 0·6/6·9 ± 0·3 versus 7·2 ± 0·2/6·0 ± 0·2 mmHg, P<0·05, respectively). In conclusion, patients with PD have higher ABPV than control subjects as assessed by SD_d , CV_d , SD_dn and AVR.

Evaluation of Cardiac Autonomic Functions in Older Parkinson's Disease Patients: a Cross-Sectional Study

In Parkinson's disease (PD), non-motor symptoms may occur such as autonomic dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate both parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in older PD cases. 84 PD cases and 58 controls, for a total of 142, participated in the study. Parasympathetic tests were performed using electrocardiography. Sympathetic tests were assessed by blood pressure measurement and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement. The prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in PD patients was 40.5% in PD patients and 24.1% in the control group (p> 0.05). The prevalence of postprandial hypotension was 47.9% in the PD group and 27.5% in the controls (p <0.05). The prevalence of impairment in heart rate response to deep breathing was 26.2% in the PD group and 6.9% in the control group (p <0.05). The prevalence of postprandial hypotension in PD with orthostatic hypotension was 94% and 16% in PD patients without orthostatic hypotension (p <0.05). The prevalence of impairment in heart rate response to deep breathing was 52.9% in PD patients with orthostatic hypotension and 8% in PD cases without orthostatic hypotension (p<0.05). The prevalence of impairment in heart rate response to postural change was 41% in PD cases with orthostatic hypotension and 12% in PD cases without orthostatic hypotension (p <0.05).Although there are tests for assessing cardiovascular autonomic function that are more reliable, they are more complicated, and evaluation of orthostatic hypotension by blood pressure measurement and cardiac autonomic tests by electrocardiography are recommended since these tests are cheap and easy.

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: roles of norepinephrine deficiency in its causes, its treatment, and future research directions

BACKGROUND

Although a diversity of neurotransmitters and hormones participate in controlling blood pressure, norepinephrine released from postganglionic sympathetic nerve terminals is an important mediator of the rapid regulation of cardiovascular function required for homeostasis of cerebral perfusion. Hence, neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) often represents a deficiency of noradrenergic responsiveness to postural change.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

PubMed searches with 'orthostatic hypotension' and 'norepinephrine' as conjoint search terms and no restriction on language or date, so as to survey the pathophysiologic and clinical relevance of norepinephrine deficiency for current NOH interventions and for future directions in treatment and research.

RESULTS

Norepinephrine deficiency in NOH can arise peripherally, due to cardiovascular sympathetic denervation (as in pure autonomic failure, Parkinson's disease, and a variety of neuropathies), or centrally, due to a failure of viscerosensory signals to generate adequate sympathetic traffic to intact sympathetic nerve endings (as in multiple system atrophy). Nonpharmacologic countermeasures such as pre-emptive water intake may yield blood-pressure increases exceeding those achieved pharmacologically. For patients with symptomatic NOH unresponsive to such strategies, a variety of pharmacologic interventions have been administered off-label on the basis of drug mechanisms expected to increase blood pressure via blood-volume expansion or vasoconstriction. Two pressor agents have received FDA approval: the sympathomimetic midodrine and more recently the norepinephrine prodrug droxidopa.

CONCLUSIONS

Pressor agents are important for treating symptomatic NOH in patients unresponsive to lifestyle changes alone. However, the dysautonomia underlying NOH often permits blood-pressure excursions toward both hypotension and hypertension. Future research should aim to shed light on the resulting management issues, and should also explore the possibility of pharmacotherapy selectively targeting orthostatic blood-pressure decreases.

Consequences of Circadian Disruption on Neurologic Health

Circadian rhythms have a major role in physiology and behavior. Circadian disruption has negative consequences for physiologic homeostasis at molecular, cellular, organ-system, and whole-organism levels. The onset of many cerebrovascular insults shows circadian temporal trends. Impaired sleep-wake cycle, the most robust output rhythms of the circadian system, is significantly affected by neurodegenerative disorders, may precede them by decades, and may also affect their progression. Emerging evidence suggests that circadian disruption may be a risk factor for these neurologic disorders. This article discusses the implications of circadian rhythms in brain disorders, with an emphasis on cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.

Diagnosing and treating neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in primary care

In response to a change in posture from supine or sitting to standing, autonomic reflexes normally maintain blood pressure (BP) by selective increases in arteriovenous resistance and by increased cardiac output, ensuring continued perfusion of the central nervous system. In neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH), inadequate vasoconstriction and cardiac output cause BP to drop excessively, resulting in inadequate perfusion, with predictable symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness and falls. The condition may represent a central failure of baroreceptor signals to modulate cardiovascular function, a peripheral failure of norepinephrine release from cardiovascular sympathetic nerve endings, or both. Symptomatic patients may benefit from both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions. Among the latter, two pressor agents have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration: the sympathomimetic prodrug midodrine, approved in 1996 for symptomatic orthostatic hypotension, and the norepinephrine prodrug droxidopa, approved in 2014, which is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension caused by primary autonomic failure (Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy and pure autonomic failure). A wide variety of off-label options also have been described (e.g. the synthetic mineralocorticoid fludrocortisone). Because pressor agents may promote supine hypertension, NOH management requires monitoring of supine BP and also lifestyle measures to minimize supine BP increases (e.g. head-of-bed elevation). However, NOH has been associated with cognitive impairment and increases a patient's risk of syncope and falls, with the potential for serious consequences. Hence, concerns about supine hypertension - for which the long-term prognosis in patients with NOH is yet to be established - must sometimes be balanced by the need to address a patient's immediate risks.

Non-dipping nocturnal blood pressure and psychosis parameters in Parkinson disease

BACKGROUND

Non-motor symptoms are increasingly recognized in Parkinson disease (PD) and include physical as well as psychological symptoms. A psychological condition that has been well studied in PD is psychosis. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in PD can include a reversed or loss of blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythm, referred to as nocturnal non-dipping. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between 24 h ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM), i.e., absence or presence of nocturnal dipping, and psychosis scores in PD.

METHODS

Twenty-one patiens with PD underwent 24 h ABPM using an autonomic protocol. A decrease in nocturnal mean arterial blood pressure of less than 10% was defined as non-dipping. Patients were interviewed (including the brief psychiatric rating scale; BPRS) for the assessment of psychosis.

RESULTS

Eleven patients were dippers and 10 were non-dippers. BPRS scores were higher in non-dippers, who, on average, met the criteria for psychosis (mean non-dipper BPRS: 34.3 ± 7.3 vs mean dipper BPRS: 27.5 ± 5.3; cutoff for "mildly ill" 31). There was a correlation between BPRS scores and non-dipping, indicating that those patients who had a blunted nocturnal fall in BP were more prone to psychotic symptoms (Pearson's Correlation = 0.554, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that, among PD patients, a non-dipping circadian rhythm is associated with more severe symptoms of psychosis than is a dipping circadian rhythm. This association warrants further investigation.

Drug Interactions in Parkinson's Disease: Safety of Pharmacotherapy for Arterial Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, observed in patients aged older than 50 years. In this study, we review interactions between therapies used in PD and selected antihypertensive agents. Moreover, in view of the lack of evidence-based recommendations regarding the pharmacotherapy of arterial hypertension in PD patients, we propose effective and safe therapeutic algorithms for these two coexisting conditions.

METHOD

We used the "Drug interactions" database affiliated with the Ministry of Health, which allows for the identification of interactions between compared active compounds. The database is updated on a monthly basis and all data are consistent with current legislation. For information about interactions, we additionally added data from the British National Formulary, a joint publication of the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In this analysis, we also used data from Micromedex^®, Cerner Multum™, Wolters Kluwer™, Lexicomp^® and Stockley's^®. We analysed the potential interactions between antihypertensive and anti-parkinsonian agents included in respective guidelines on the pharmacotherapy of these conditions.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed the lack of clinically relevant interactions between preparations of levodopa and benserazide (used for the treatment of PD) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, antagonists of AT₁ receptor for angiotensin II or antagonists of β-adrenoreceptors (β-adrenolytics).

CONCLUSION

To avoid major drug-to-drug interactions, patients receiving preparations of levodopa and benserazide should be prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, antagonists of AT₁ receptor for angiotensin II, or antagonists of β-adrenoreceptors (β-adrenolytics) as the first-line agents of antihypertensive treatment.

'The clocks that time us'--circadian rhythms in neurodegenerative disorders

Circadian rhythms are physiological and behavioural cycles generated by an endogenous biological clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The circadian system influences the majority of physiological processes, including sleep-wake homeostasis. Impaired sleep and alertness are common symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders, and circadian dysfunction might exacerbate the disease process. The pathophysiology of sleep-wake disturbances in these disorders remains largely unknown, and is presumably multifactorial. Circadian rhythm dysfunction is often observed in patients with Alzheimer disease, in whom it has a major impact on quality of life and represents one of the most important factors leading to institutionalization of patients. Similarly, sleep and circadian problems represent common nonmotor features of Parkinson disease and Huntington disease. Clinical studies and experiments in animal models of neurodegenerative disorders have revealed the progressive nature of circadian dysfunction throughout the course of neurodegeneration, and suggest strategies for the restoration of circadian rhythmicity involving behavioural and pharmacological interventions that target the sleep-wake cycle. In this Review, we discuss the role of the circadian system in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, and outline the implications of disrupted circadian timekeeping in neurodegenerative diseases.

Blood pressure disorders during Parkinson’s disease: epidemiology, pathophysiology and management

Blood pressure disorders are highly prevalent in the course of Parkinson's disease (PD). They relate to autonomic failure and are frequently associated with orthostatic hypotension, postprandial hypotension and supine hypertension. Supine hypertension, which may concern up to 50% of patients with PD and autonomic failure, is driven by residual sympathetic activity and changes in sensitivity of vascular adrenergic receptors. It can also be induced or worsened by antihypotensive drugs. Even if little data is available, a set of arguments suggests that supine hypertension sometimes requires treatment. This review will focus on recent data on the pathophysiology and the management of supine hypertension in the context of its association with orthostatic hypotension.

Syncope in the Elderly

A rapid change in ageing demographic is taking place worldwide such that healthcare professionals are increasingly treating old and very old patients. Syncope in the elderly is a challenging presentation that is under-recognised, particularly in the acute care setting. The reason for this is that presentation in the older person may be atypical: patients are less likely to have a prodrome, may have amnesia for loss of consciousness and events are frequently unwitnessed. The older patient thus may present with a fall rather than transient loss of consciousness. There is an increased susceptibility to syncope with advancing age attributed to age-related physiological impairments in heart rate and blood pressure, and alterations in cerebral blood flow. Multi-morbidity and polypharmacy in these complex patients increases susceptibility to syncope. Cardiac causes and more than one possible cause are also common. Syncope is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is associated with enormous personal and wider health economic costs. In view of this, prompt assessment and early targeted intervention are recommended. The purpose of this article is to update the reader regarding the presentation and management of syncope in this rapidly changing demographic.

Blood pressure fluctuation and hypertension in patients with Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES

Blood pressure (BP) abnormalities have been known in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. The present study aimed at determining how the BPs of PD patients fluctuate in a day.

METHODS

A total of 37 PD patients and 44 OD (other disease) patients, all of who were inpatients, were monitored every 30 min by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

RESULTS

The average systolic BP and the number of patients who showed postprandial hypotension were not different between the two groups. However, occurrence of nocturnal hypertension, BP fluctuation of over 100 mmHg in a day and BP of over 200 mmHg were significantly more frequently observed in the PD patients than in the OD patients. In the PD patients, these parameters were not different between those who were suffering from the disease for less than 10 years and those with the disease for 10 years or longer, as well as between those who had a Hoehn-Yahr staging scale of 2-3 and those with a scale of 4-5.

CONCLUSION

Twenty-four-hour ABPM, not BP measurement once a day, enables us to determine the actual BP in PD patients. Although hypotension is a severe risk factor for falling and syncope, we emphasize the importance of monitoring rather hypertension and fluctuating BP in PD patients that may lead to a variety of other undesirable conditions. Management of hypotension, hypertension, and BP fluctuation is an important issue in the future.

Twenty-four hour non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring in Parkinson's disease

Non-motor symptoms are now commonly recognized in Parkinson's disease (PD) and can include dysautonomia. Impairment of cardiovascular autonomic function can occur at any stage of PD but is typically prevalent in advanced stages or related to (anti-Parkinsonian) drugs and can result in atypical blood pressure (BP) readings and related symptoms such as orthostatic hypotension (OH) and supine hypertension. OH is usually diagnosed with a head-up-tilt test (HUT) or an (active) standing test (also known as Schellong test) in the laboratory, but 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in a home setting may have several advantages, such as providing an overview of symptoms in daily life alongside pathophysiology as well as assessment of treatment interventions. This, however, is only possible if ABPM is administrated correctly and an autonomic protocol (including a diary) is followed which will be discussed in this review. A 24-h ABPM does not only allow the detection of OH, if it is present, but also the assessment of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction during and after various daily stimuli, such as postprandial and alcohol dependent hypotension, as well as exercise and drug induced hypotension. Furthermore, information about the circadian rhythm of BP and heart rate (HR) can be obtained and establish whether or not a patient has a fall of BP at night (i.e., "dipper" vs. non-"dipper"). The information about nocturnal BP may also allow the investigation or detection of disorders such as sleep dysfunction, nocturnal movement disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea, which are common in PD. Additionally, a 24-h ABPM should be conducted to examine the effectiveness of OH therapy. This review will outline the methodology of 24 h ABPM in PD, summarize findings of such studies in PD, and briefly consider common daily stimuli that might affect 24 h ABPM.

Circadian and sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease

Impaired sleep and alertness, initially recognized by James Parkinson in his famous monograph "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy" in 1817, is one of the most common and disabling nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). It is only recently, however, that sleep disturbances in PD have received the attention of medical and research community. Dopamine, the major neurotransmitter implicated in the pathogenesis of PD, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of sleep and circadian homeostasis. Sleep dysfunction affects up to 90% of patients with PD, and may precede the onset of the disease by decades. Sleep dysfunction in PD may be categorized into disturbances of overnight sleep and daytime alertness. Etiology of impaired sleep and alertness in PD is multifactorial. Co-existent primary sleep disorders, medication side effects, overnight re-emergence of motor symptoms, and primary neurodegeneration itself, are main causes of sleep disruption and excessive daytime sleepiness among patients with PD. Increasing body of evidence suggests that the circadian system becomes dysregulated in PD, which may lead to poor sleep and alertness. Treatment options are limited and frequently associated with unwanted side effects. Further studies that will examine pathophysiology of sleep dysfunction in PD, and focus on novel treatment approaches are therefore very much needed. In this article we review the role of dopamine in regulation of sleep and alertness and discuss main sleep and circadian disturbances associated with PD.

The potential prognostic role of cardiovascular autonomic failure in α-synucleinopathies

Cardiovascular autonomic failure is the second most common dysautonomic feature of α-synucleinopathies and has significant impact on daily activities and quality of life. Here we provide a systematic review of cardiovascular autonomic failure in α-synucleinopathies, emphasizing its impact on cognitive functions and disease outcomes. Articles spanning the period between January 1985 and April 2012 were identified from the PubMed database using a keyword-based search. Epidemiological studies highlight the negative prognostic effect of cardiovascular autonomic failure on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes and overall mortality in all α-synucleinopathies. Altered cerebral perfusion, vascular pressure stress, and related disruption of the blood-brain barrier may also contribute to the white matter hyperintensities and cognitive dysfunction frequently found in patients affected by neurocardiovascular instability. These findings support the hypothesis that cardiovascular autonomic failure may play a negative prognostic role in α-synucleinopathies and suggest that precocious screening and therapeutic management of cardiovascular autonomic failure may positively impact disease course.

Systemic blood pressure profile correlates with cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake in patients with Parkinson's disease

To examine the correlation between the systemic blood pressure profile and cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), we monitored circadian blood pressure patterns of 37 PD patients of 49 to 85 years of age (mean, 71.8±8.4 years) using a portable blood pressure monitoring device. The duration of PD was 0.5 to 15 years, and the disability level (modified Hoehn and Yahr stage) ranged from 1.0 to 4.0 (mean, 2.7±0.7). There were 37 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Cardiac MIBG scintigraphy was performed for the 37 PD patients. Based on the nocturnal fall in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), we classified patients into extreme dippers (nocturnal reduction of MABP >20%), dippers (>10% but <20%), nondippers (<10% but >0%), and inverted dippers (<0%). Average 24-hour MABP values revealed reduced BP variability in PD patients. The percentage nocturnal fall in MABP was significantly different between PD patients and control subjects (p<0.05). Significant correlations were found between % MABP reduction and the heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio on early and delayed images (p<0.01). The UPDR motor score, early and delay H/M ratios were also significantly different between patients who were and were not dippers (p<0.05). The present results reported for the first time a significant correlation between the systemic blood pressure profile and cardiac (123)I-MIBG uptake in patients with PD. The degeneration between the brainstem and the postganglionic neurons of myocardial sympathetic nerves may progress in parallel in patients with PD.

Nondipping in Parkinson's disease

Objective. The aim of this study was to identify patients with Parkinson's disease who showed loss or decrease of nocturnal blood pressure fall (nondipper patients) as a marker of autonomic dysfunction. Presence or absence of orthostatic hypotension was considered to investigate whether alterations in circadian blood pressure pattern are associated with posture-related dysregulation of blood pressure. Methods. 40 patients with Parkinson's disease underwent 24-hour blood pressure monitoring. 21 patients were diagnosed with arterial hypertension and received anti-hypertensive drugs. Nondipper patients were defined as having nocturnal decrease of mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure less than 10%. Presence or absence of orthostatic hypotension was determined by Schellong's test. Results. We identified 35 nondipper patients (88%). Nondipping was detected in 20 patients with orthostatic hypotension (95%) and in 15 patients without orthostatic hypotension (79%). 18 patients with hypertensive and 22 patients with normal blood pressure values were detected. Conclusions. In conclusion 24-hour blood pressure monitoring showed a high prevalence of nondipping in 40 patients with Parkinson's disease with and without orthostatic hypotension independent of coexisting arterial hypertension and antihypertensive treatment. 24-hour blood pressure monitoring may be useful to identify non-dipping as a marker of autonomic dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension of Parkinson's disease: what exploration for what treatment?

The aim of this short review is to illustrate, using orthostatic hypotension as an example, the clinical problems related to autonomic features in Parkinson's disease. Orthostatic hypotension is frequently encountered in Parkinson's disease and its diagnosis remains manometric (a fall of at least 20 and/or 10 mmHg in standing blood pressure). It is often associated with supine hypertension to be taken into account before prescribing. To distinguish between the role of disease and of drugs (not only antiparkinsonian drugs), a simple clinical test of autonomic nervous system activity (deep breathing test and standing test with measurement of 30/15 ratio) can be used. When diagnosis with multisystem atrophy is discussed, cardiac [¹²³I]-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy is of value showing in Parkinson's disease a decreased uptake of the radiopharmaceutical indicating postganglionic sympathetic denervation. Concerning treatment, nonpharmacological methods have to be systematically used since no drug has been specifically evaluated for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension of Parkinson's disease.

Cardiovascular assessment of falls in older people

Falls in older people can be caused by underlying cardiovascular disorders, either because of balance instability in persons with background gait and balance disorders, or because of amnesia for loss of consciousness during unwitnessed syncope. Pertinent investigations include a detailed history, 12-lead electrocardiography, lying and standing blood pressure, carotid sinus massage (CSM), head-up tilt, cardiac electrophysiological tests, and ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, which includes external and internal cardiac monitoring. The presence of structural heart disease predicts an underlying cardiac cause. Conversely, the absence of either indicates that neurally mediated etiology is likely. CSM and tilt-table testing should be considered in patients with unexplained and recurrent falls. Holter monitoring over 24 hours has a low diagnostic yield. Early use of an implantable loop recorder may be more cost-effective. A dedicated investigation unit increases the likelihood of achieving positive diagnoses and significantly reduces hospital stay and health expenditure.

Blood pressure and heart rate in parkinsonian patients with and without wearing-off

Our study aimed to investigate the cardiovascular autonomic regulation related to the wearing-off phenomenon in Parkinson's disease (PD). We measured blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) at rest and during orthostatic test in 16 patients with PD with wearing-off and in 15 patients with PD without wearing-off both before (baseline) and repetitively at 1-h intervals for up to 4 h after the morning PD medication dose. The patients with wearing-off had fluctuation of BP during the observation period, BP increasing when the motor performance worsened and vice versa. The mean supine BP was at its highest at the baseline measurement (patients with wearing-off, 145 +/- 18 mmHg; patients without wearing-off, 138 +/- 17 mmHg), fell during the first hour (patients with wearing-off, 119 +/- 17 mmHg; patients without wearing-off, 126 +/- 18 mmHg), and then rose again toward the end of the observation period (patients with wearing-off, 136 +/- 15 mmHg; patients without wearing-off, 138 +/- 18 mmHg). This BP change was statistically significant only in PD patients with wearing-off (P < 0.001). In conclusion, BP seems to fluctuate with motor impairment in PD patients with wearing-off. This fluctuation may represent autonomic dysfunction caused by the PD process itself, the effect of PD medication, or both.

Adverse drug reactions related to drugs used in orthostatic hypotension: a prospective and systematic pharmacovigilance study in France

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate and characterise adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to drugs used in France for orthostatic hypotension (OH).

METHODS

In this prospective and systematic study, 121 consecutive out-patients suffering from primary (Parkinson's disease, pure autonomic failure, multiple system atrophy, Lewy bodies disease) or secondary (diabetic and non-diabetic peripheral neuropathies) autonomic failure with symptomatic OH requiring pharmacological treatment with at least one drug marketed in France for OH were included together with six patients with refractory neurocardiogenic syncope.

RESULTS

Of the patients, 85 received a monotherapy-mainly with midodrine (49.4%)-and 42 received various combinations, the association of midodrine and fludrocortisone being the most frequent (66.6%). Of all the 127 patients, 88 suffered from a total of 141 ADRs (1.60 per patient) with no statistical difference in ADR frequency between monotherapy and drug combinations (P>0.05). Among ADRs, 24 (17.0%) were considered as "serious" and 16 (11.3%) were considered as "unexpected", most of them observed with heptaminol.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a high frequency of ADRs (especially serious and unexpected ADRs) with antihypotensive drugs. It strongly suggests the need for a better evaluation of the safety profile of antihypotensive drugs and improvement in summary of product characteristics.

Pharmacology of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease: from pathophysiology to management

Orthostatic hypotension is highly prevalent in the elderly, and affects up to 20% of patients with Parkinson's disease. Pharmacological approaches help to demonstrate that Parkinson's disease is a primary autonomic failure with involvement of the peripheral autonomic nervous system as shown by decreased [(123)I] meta-iodobenzylguanidine cardiac uptake and preserved growth hormone response to clonidine. No specific clinical trial has evaluated efficacy of antihypotensive drugs in Parkinson's disease. End point of treatment should be a reduction in postural symptoms. Midodrine (Proamatin), Roberts Pharmaceutical), a vasoconstrictor and fludrocortisone (Florinef), Bristol-Myers Squibb), a volume expander are first choice drugs. No data are available on their effects on orthostatic hypotension-related morbidity. The usefulness of other drugs remains to be demonstrated. This review will highlight the importance of nonpharmacological measures in the management of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease.

Biologic rhythms and Parkinson's disease: a chronopharmacologic approach to considering fluctuations in function

The existence of circadian rhythms and their implication in many pathologic processes have been underlined in several diseases but have not been evaluated in Parkinson's disease. The aim of this paper is to review diurnal variations of clinical, biologic, or experimental factors described with Parkinson's disease. Clinical data often report daily fluctuations of motor activity pattern, but the effect of the stage of the disease and the respective roles of drugs are difficult to evaluate. Sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease patients also reveal alterations of circadian rhythms. Autonomic dysfunction, described in Parkinson's disease, reveals numerous alterations in circadian regulations including loss of circadian rhythm of blood pressure, increased diurnal blood pressure variability, and postprandial hypotension. Many biologic indices such as cortisol, catecholamines, and melatonin are also altered. Circadian rhythms in dopaminergic systems as well as possible daily fluctuations in kinetics of drug treatments are likely involved in such variations. Few clinical studies have been devoted to circadian patterns of drug response. As for other diseases where biologic rhythms are concerned Parkinson's disease therapy may be influenced by further understanding of circadian influence.

Cardiovascular effects of domperidone in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with apomorphine

OBJECTIVES

The cardiovascular effects of the peripheral dopamine D2-receptor antagonist domperidone were studied in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease treated with continuous subcutaneous infusion of apomorphine.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Blood pressure and heart rate of 10 patients were monitored for 24 h before and after treatment with domperidone using an automatic device for blood pressure recording.

RESULTS

Blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly during 24 h of domperidone treatment. When day and night values were analysed separately, a significant difference of blood pressure between the groups was found only during the day whereas heart rate was significantly increased during both day and night. Domperidone shifted blood pressure and heart rate upwards without affecting the drop of blood pressure in the erect position.

CONCLUSION

Domperidone increases blood pressure and heart rate without inducing nocturnal hypertension in apomorphine treated patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Increased heart rate by domperidone is a new finding but the clinical significance is unclear and requires further investigation.

Impaired atrial M(2)-cholinoceptor function in obesity-related hypertension

The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of the parasympathetic limb of the baroreflex arch in a canine model of obesity-related hypertension. Twelve male beagle dogs were randomized into 2 groups. Six dogs were fed with normal canine food and 6 were submitted to a 10-week high-fat diet (HFD). We have evaluated the consequences of HFD on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) circadian cycles and methylscopolamine dose-response curves. Binding of [(3)H]-AF-DX 384 and adenylyl cyclase activity were investigated to determine the density and functionality of M(2)-cholinoceptors on right atrial membranes from control and HFD dogs. HFD induced a significant increase in body weight (15+/-1 vs 12+/-1 kg), systolic BP (161+/-5 vs 145+/-4 mm Hg), diastolic BP (92+/-3 vs 79+/-2 mm Hg), and HR (96+/-4 vs 81+/-3 bpm). Circadian rhythms of HR and BP observed in the baseline period were abolished after 9 weeks of HFD. After propranolol (1 mg/kg) pretreatment, the dose of methylscopolamine able to induce 50% maximum tachycardia was significantly increased after 9 weeks of HFD (7.4+/-0.3 vs 4.7+/-0.1 microg/kg). In the control group, the experimental period failed to modify these parameters. The numbers of M(2)-cholinoceptors measured in right atrial membranes were significantly lower in HFD than in control groups (54+/-6 vs 27+/-6 fmol/mg protein). The ability of carbachol to inhibit isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was significantly lower in HFD than in control groups (IC(50)=47+/-12 vs 6.4+/-1.4 micromol/L). However, the basal activity of adenylyl cyclase was unchanged by HFD. HFD decreases M(2)-cholinoceptor number and function in cardiomyocytes. This could explain the abolition of circadian rhythm of HR and the changes in chronotropic effect brought about by methylscopolamine.

Postural hypotension: causes, clinical features, investigation, and management

Postural hypotension may result from various neurogenic and non-neurogenic causes. It may be a key feature of certain disorders, such as the primary chronic autonomic failure syndromes; it can complicate a variety of diseases, such as diabetes mellitus; and its prevalence increases with advancing age. When symptomatic, it may result in loss of consciousness and thus cause injury. Postural hypotension can be suspected from the patient's history and is readily documented in the clinic by measuring lying and standing blood pressure. The diagnosis ideally should be confirmed in the laboratory with additional tests to determine the cause and evaluate the functional deficit, so as to aid treatment. Treatment of the causative disorder is often curative when there are non-neurogenic causes. A combination of nonpharmacological and pharmacological measures is needed in the management of neurogenic postural hypotension.

Twenty-four-hour blood pressure profile and blood pressure responses to head-up tilt tests in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the 24 h blood pressure profile in patients with Parkinson's disease with intact autonomic function or with autonomic failure and patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), and to assess whether these patients exhibit posture-related variations in blood pressure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied 24 patients with Parkinson's disease (11 with autonomic failure) and 13 patients with MSA (all with autonomic failure). Autonomic failure was determined by autonomic tests. An oscillometric recorder was used for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Tilt-table tests were performed with a head-up tilt position of 60 degrees.

RESULTS

An alteration in the normal 24 h blood pressure profile was observed in 82% of Parkinson's disease patients with autonomic failure and in 85% of those with multiple system atrophy, but not in the patients with intact autonomic function. Head-up tilt tests revealed a significantly higher supine blood pressure in Parkinson's disease patients with autonomic failure and in those with MSA than in Parkinson's disease patients with intact autonomic function. Tilting resulted in a marked fall in blood pressure in patients with MSA; in Parkinson's disease patients with autonomic failure, the fall was comparatively slighter.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that autonomic failure contributes to the alterations in the day-night blood pressure profile that may possibly be ascribed to postural dysregulation of blood pressure. We hypothesize that nocturnal hypertension is a risk factor in the development of additional cerebrovascular disease in patients with Parkinson's disease or MSA who are affected by autonomic failure.

Fluoxetine in orthostatic hypotension of Parkinson's disease: a clinical and experimental pilot study

Recent clinical studies have reported a beneficial effect of fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in patients with severe refractory orthostatic hypotension. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of fluoxetine in orthostatic hypotension occurring during Parkinson's disease on both blood pressure values and number of clinical symptoms during orthostatic procedure evaluated using a validated clinical rating scale. In a pilot study performed in fourteen patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease plus orthostatic hypotension, fluoxetine hydrochloride (20 mg orally daily during one month) significantly reduced the fall in systolic blood pressure [-33 +/- 21 (SD) mmHg before fluoxetine vs -22 +/- 19 mmHg after fluoxetine, P = 0.03] elicited by standing without modifying heart rate. The drug also significantly reduced the number of postural symptoms occurring during the orthostatic procedure [2.9 +/- 1.5 (SD) before fluoxetine vs 1.2 +/- 1.3 after fluoxetine, P = 0.006]. A similar pattern of response was obtained in an experimental model of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension obtained in chronically sino-aortic denervated dogs submitted to an 80 degrees head-up tilt test procedure under chloralose anaesthesia. Fluoxetine did not change plasma noradrenaline levels. This pilot study suggests a slight but clinically significant effect of fluoxetine on both hemodynamic parameters and clinical symptoms in parkinsonian patients suffering from orthostatic hypotension.

Effects of yohimbine, an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, on experimental neurogenic orthostatic hypotension

Yohimbine has been proposed for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension; however, no controlled trial has been performed in experimental models of orthostatic hypotension or in patients with autonomic failure. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of yohimbine (0.05 mg/kg, intravenously [i.v.]) and placebo (saline) in a new model of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension obtained by sinoaortic denervation (SAD) in chloralose-anaesthetized dogs. Blood pressure, heart rate, noradrenaline plasma levels and systolic blood pressure and heart rate short-term variabilities (calculated on low frequency [40-50 MHz] and high frequency [390-490 MHz] bands) were measured in supine position and after a 10 min 80 degrees head-up tilting. The drugs were administered in a double-blind cross-over randomized fashion. The head-up tilting performed in normal animals increased diastolic blood pressure (+12 +/- 4 mmHg), heart rate (+39 +/- 12 beats per minute [bpm]), the low frequency band of systolic blood pressure and noradrenaline plasma level, without changing systolic blood pressure or heart rate variability. In SAD dogs, a marked fall in systolic (-80 +/- 11 mmHg) and diastolic (-43 +/- 4 mmHg) blood pressures was observed within 1 min after placebo, without modification in heart rate, systolic blood pressure and heart rate short-term variabilities and noradrenaline plasma levels. In SAD dogs, yohimbine (0.05 mg/kg, i.v.) delayed the blood pressure fall elicited by head-up tilting, but failed to modify its magnitude. These results show that, in the model of orthostatic hypotension obtained by SAD, yohimbine, at an alpha 2-adrenoceptor selective dose (0.05 mg/kg), delays the fall in blood pressure elicited by head-up tilting. The effect of yohimbine can be explained by an increase in sympathetic tone.

Prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension and the nature of the postural events related to a fall in blood pressure in patients with Parkinson's disease.

METHODS

Blood pressure was measured first in a supine position after a rest of at least 15 minutes and every minute during 10 minutes of an active standing up procedure. Orthostatic hypotension was considered as present when a fall of at least 20 mm Hg of systolic blood pressure was recorded. Postural events which occurred during the standing test were identified from a questionnaire and self reporting. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the relation between orthostatic hypotension and disease characteristics (duration, severity) and the use of antiparkinsonian drugs. Ninety one consecutive patients with Parkinson's disease (48 women, 43 men, mean age 66 (SD 9) years) participated to the study.

RESULTS

A fall of at least 20 mm Hg of systolic blood pressure was found in 58.2% of the patients. Orthostatic hypotension was asymptomatic in 38.5% and associated with postural events in 19.8% of the patients. Symptomatic (but not asymptomatic) orthostatic hypotension was related to duration and severity of the disease and with the use of higher daily levodopa and bromocriptine doses. The analysis of the relation between the postural symptoms (and the need for standing test abortion) with the fall in systolic blood pressure allowed the identification of six clinical criteria specific of orthostatic hypotension. A direct relation between the postural changes in systolic blood pressure and the number of clinical events in this clinical scale was found.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease is high and it is possible to establish a clinical rating scale which could be used to assess the effects of drugs employed in the management of orthostatic hypotension.

Effects of octreotide on experimental neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in anaesthetized dogs

This paper investigates the effects of octreotide (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneous) on cardiovascular adaptation during head-up tilt test in an experimental model of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (OH) obtained by chronic sinoaortic denervation in anaesthetized dogs. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), spectral variability (Fast Fourier transformation on 512 consecutive points, delta t: 2 Hz) and plasma catecholamine levels were measured in a double blind cross-over randomized study versus placebo, in supine position and during a head-up tilt test (80 degrees, 10 min) in six sinoaortic denervated and six control (normal) dogs. In normal dogs, head-up tilt test significantly increased HR and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Plasma noradrenaline levels and energy of the low frequency band (40-150 mHz) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly increased whereas the energy of the low frequency band of HR significantly decreased. Placebo and octreotide failed to modify supine and head-up tilt values of the measured parameters (except the value of low frequency band of SBP, which increased after octreotide). In sinoaortic denervated dogs, supine values of BP, HR and plasma noradrenaline levels were significantly higher than in controls whereas the energy of the low frequency spectral band of HR and SBP was similar to controls. Head-up tilt test induced a dramatic decrease in BP. HR, plasma noradrenaline levels and energy of the low frequency band of SBP and HR remained unchanged during head-up tilt tests. Neither supine nor head-up tilt values of these parameters were modified 45 min after octreotide or placebo administration. These results show that sinoaortic denervation is a reproducible model of OH characterized by a lack of activation of sympathetic efferent pathways during head-up tilt tests. Octreotide at the dose used remains ineffective to prevent the fall in BP under these experimental conditions.

Decrease of medullary catecholaminergic neurons in multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease and their preservation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

We investigated the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive neurons in the C1 and A2 regions of the medulla, the sites of the baroreflex arc, in 7 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), 8 with Parkinson's disease (PD), 9 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and 12 age-matched normal subjects to analyze the relationship between cardiovascular dysfunction and medullary catecholaminergic neurons. Orthostatic hypotension (OH) was marked in all the MSA patients and moderate in three PD patients. Three of the five ALS patients who had been on respirators showed lability of blood pressure; paroxysmal hypertension and nocturnal hypotension without compensatory tachycardia. All the MSA patients showed extremely marked decrease of TH-immunoreactive neurons in both the C1 and A2 regions. In the patients with Parkinson's disease, numerous TH-immunoreactive neurons contained Lewy bodies that were immunostained by antibody to TH. TH-immunoreactive neurons were decreased very markedly in the A2 regions of two patients with OH, and three patients without OH showed fairly marked decreases in the C1 or A2 region. In contrast, the number of TH-immunoreactive neurons in ALS was the same as in normal subjects. In MSA and some PD patients, orthostatic hypotension may partly be due to the involvement of the medullary catecholaminergic neurons. The lability of blood pressure in ALS probably is not related to the medullary catecholaminergic neurons.