[Parkinson's disease, dysautonomy, and auto-antibodies directed against sympathetic neurones (author's transl)]

A study was conducted to evaluate possible correlations between auto-antibodies directed against sympathetic structures (Ab. S), in Parkinson's disease and the dysautonomy that may be associated with it, in 85 Parkinsonian patients and 85 controls. In all the patients with Parkinson's disease, the immunological study was coupled with an evaluation of functional signs of anomalies of neurovegetative function, and tests for postural hypotension. The results confirm the remarkable frequency of these auto-antibodies in patients with Parkinson's disease (66%), whereas they were present in only 20% of control subjects. Positive results were more frequent in early onset, long-standing cases. The presence of Ab. S in 85% of the pateints in whom the disease had started before 50 years of age could mean that these antibodies might constitute a marker for Parkinson's disease among other parkinsonian conditions. No correlation between Ab. S and the existence of a dysautonomy was found, but their frequency is slightly higher in patients with Parkinson's disease and postural hypotension (75%). This finding, together with the frequency and plurality of the mechanism of postural hypotension in elderly subjects, suggests a correlation with some types of postural hypotension.