Polyamine patterns in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Polyamines (PAs) are important modulators of physiological condition, and are associated with neurodegenerative disease. Thus, we investigated the change of PA concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).

METHODS: CSF samples from patients with PD and MSA were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode using N-ethoxycarbonyl/N-pentafluoropropyonyl derivatives.

RESULTS: PA concentrations were significantly different in patients with PD and MSA compared with those in the normal group. In the PD group, as compared with the MSA group, concentrations of putrescine, N(1)-acetylspermidine, and putrescine spermidine(-)(1) were significantly increased, whereas the concentration of spermidine was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS: These results could be helpful for understanding the complexity of biochemical events in patients with PD and MSA, and may serve as metabolic markers for diagnosis of PD and MSA.