Peripheral nerve involvement and severity of motor disorder in Parkinson's disease: a correlational study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is concomitant peripheral nerve involvement in patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders by correlating motor and peripheral nerve involvement in Parkinson's disease. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 23 patients suffering from Parkinson's disease diagnosed strictly according to the UKPDBB criteria were examined. The group comprised 14 males (mean age: 57 years, mean age at onset: 51 years, mean duration of disease: 7 years, mean duration of dopaminergic treatment: 4 years) and 9 females (mean age: 67 years, mean age at onset: 63 years, mean duration of disease: 4 years, mean duration of dopaminergic treatment: 1 year). CONCLUSION Polyneuropathy was clinically present and confirmed using EMG examination in 10 patients (43.5 %), 5 males and 5 females. This suggests that the neurodegenerative process involves both the central and the peripheral nervous system in Parkinson's patients.