Decreased cerebrospinal fluid levels of beta-endorphin in Japanese patients with Joseph disease.
We measured the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of beta-endorphin in 7 Japanese patients with Joseph disease and compared them with control values. The 7 patients included 4 with type I and 3 with type II disease; their mean age was 45.7 +/- 12.09 years. Diseased controls were matched in age to the patients studied. In these patients, CSF beta-endorphin level was significantly lower than in the controls (40% of normal values). An alteration in CSF beta-endorphin level may explain some of the neurological impairment found in Joseph disease.
Matsuishi
T
T
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
Sakai
T
T
Nagamitsu
S
S
Komori
H
H
Iwashita
H
H
Kato
H
H
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D017827:Machado-Joseph Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D001615:beta-Endorphin