Abstract

Objective: In a unilateral onset Idiopathic Parkinson disease, sympathetic skin responses elicited from previously and markedly affected and also from unaffected palm and forehead were recorded before and after the treatment. The difference (if any) in sympathetic skin responses recordings obtained from patients and control cases and the impact of Idiopathic Parkinson disease treatments on response sympathetic skin responses were investigated.
Materials and Methods: A total of 23 patients and 22 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patients were examined for autonomic nervous system involvement and the patients with facial hyperhidrosis were determined. Sympathetic skin responses of the patients were recorded twice (before and after initiation of therapy) from both sides of the forehead and both hands and compared with healthy volunteers.
Results: A statistically significant difference was not detected between sympathetic skin responses amplitudes of left and right hands in Tests 1 and 2. Significantly lower sympathetic skin responses amplitudes were observed in Test 2. Correlations among amplitudes of hand sympathetic skin responses, Hoehn and Yahr Staging and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale scores demonstrated significant decreases in amplitudes of sympathetic skin responses in parallel with disease progression. Left side dominancy in patients with hyperhidrosis is statistically significant.
Conclusion: Detection of lower amplitudes in hand sympathetic skin responses after therapy may be due to habituation or used drugs. Significant decreases in amplitudes of sympathetic skin responses in parallel with disease progression were observed. No data concerning left side dominancy in the patient group with hyperhidrosis have been detected so far.

Key words: Parkinson Disease; Sympathetic Skin Responses; Autonomic Dysfunction.