Calcitonin gene related peptide in familial dysautonomia.
Familial dysautonomia (FD) patients have diminished sensory C-fibers. Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) is a widely distributed neuropeptide and prominent neurotransmitter in C-fibers. We show that plasma CGRP levels measured by radioimmunoassay is significantly lower in 51 FD patients compared to controls (P<0.001). In 11/51 FD patients with FD crisis and in 19/51 FD patients with pneumonia, the mean CGRP levels rose significantly as compared to their baseline (P<0.003, P<0.001, respectively). The deficiency of CGRP in FD patients is consistent with their depletion of C-fibers, and may explain some of their symptoms, either directly or via modulation of sympathetic activity.
Maayan
C
C
Department of Pediatrics, Hadassah University Hospital, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
Becker
Y
Y
Gesundheit
B
B
Girgis
S I
SI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004402:Dysautonomia, Familial / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide