title: Serum dopamine beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) levels during tilting in patients with spinal cord injuries.
abstract: The activity of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) in the serum was measured in patients with quadriplegia and in healthy subjects. We assume that the plasma D beta H levels reflect sympathetic tone. Quadriplegics had significantly lower D beta H levels at rest. After head-up tilting a significant decrease in D beta H levels occurred in patients with spinal cord injury suggesting failure of the sympathetic nervous system. However, a considerable overlap exists between normals and quadriplegics, making this test of limited value in the assessment of autonomic function in individual subjects.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000097:blood; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase