Ventricular somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in patients with basal ganglia disease

Summary The concentrations of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in lateral ventricular fluid of patients with extrapyramidal motor disease were determined by specific radio-immunoassay. Mean SLI levels were significantly lower in patients with Parkinson's disease (mean ± SEM); 42.9±2.9 fmol/ml) and in patients with dystonic syndromes (39.4±3.2) than in patients with benign essential tremor (65.3±9.7). The lowest levels were found in patients with athetosis (34.7±5.4). In parkinsonian patients somatostatin levels correlated with the degree of akinesia, rigidity and autonomic disturbances.