Cerebrospinal fluid metabolite and nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in Parkinson's disease

Objectives - To evaluate the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations and nigrostriatal dopaminergic function assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with carbon-11-labeled 2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)-tropane (11C-CFT), which can measure the dopamine transporter (DAT) density, in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods - 11C-CFT PET scans and CSF examinations were performed on 21 patients with PD, and six patients with non-parkinsonian syndromes (NPS) as a control group. Results - In the PD group, CSF HVA concentrations were significantly correlated with the striatal uptake of 11C-CFT (r = 0.76, P < 0.01). However, in the NPS group, two indices were within the normal range. Conclusions - In PD, CSF HVA concentrations correlate with nigrostriatal dopaminergic function. Therefore, CSF HVA concentrations may be an additional surrogate marker for estimating the remaining nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in case that DAT imaging is unavailable.