title: The plasma alpha-synuclein levels in patients with Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.
abstract: alpha-Synuclein, a synaptic protein of unknown function, is a major component of Lewy bodies and may play a role in the pathophysiological process of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we measured the plasma alpha-synuclein levels in 105 patients with PD, 38 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), and 51 age-matched controls. The alpha-synuclein level was significantly elevated in patients with PD (79.9 +/- 4.0 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and in those with MSA (78.1 +/- 3.5 pg/ml, p = 0.019) compared with the level in controls (76.1 +/- 3.9 pg/ml). The alpha-synuclein level was higher in patients with PD than in those with MSA (79.9 +/- 4.0 vs 78.1 +/- 3.5, p = 0.016). Our study demonstrated that the alpha-synuclein level in plasma is elevated in patients with PD and MSA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. phisland@chol.com
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: O Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000097:blood*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein