title: The relation of testosterone levels with fatigue and apathy in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fatigue and apathy are frequent in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Testosterone deficiency in male patients may contribute in development of fatigue and apathy as well. We investigated whether a possible relation exists between serum testosterone levels, fatigue and apathy in male PD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 29 non-demented and non-depressed PD patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-C) were used for the evaluations. In PD patients and healthy subjects, a relationship between FSS, AES-C scores and plasma testosterone levels were assessed. In addition, a correlation between FSS, AES-C and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale was investigated in PD group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean scores of FSS and AES-C were significantly higher in PD patients than those of the control group. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores were significantly correlated with FSS and AES-C scores. Mean free testosterone level was significantly lower in PD patients than controls (p=0.008). f-Testosterone levels of PD patients were not correlated with FSS or AES-C scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apathy and fatigue are frequent in PD and show significant correlation with the severity of the disease. f-Testosterone levels are not related with apathy or fatigue in male PD patients and the role of testosterone in the pathophysiology of these non-motor symptoms is still controversial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Education and Research Hospital of Sisli Etfal, Istanbul, Turkey. kenangil@superonline.com
authors.forename: Gülay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kenangil
authors.forename: Dilek Necioglu
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Orken
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ur
authors.forename: Hulki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forta
authors.forename: Munevver
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celik
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D007980:Levodopa