Changes and significance of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in patients with Parkinson disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate changes in serum level of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and its clinical significance. Methods Serum GFAP was determined with sandwich ELISA for 82 patients with PD and acute cerebral infarction (ACI), as well as healthy normal controls. Patients with PD were then divided into two sub-groups in terms of their course duration, one with less than five years and the other with more than or equal to five years. Effects of course duration and age of the patients on their serum GFAP were analyzed. Results Serum level of GFAP was significantly higher in patients with PD [(1.628±0.104) μg/L] and ACI [(1. 637±0. 063 )μg/L] than that in healthy normal controls [ (0. 025±0. 003)μg/L, t = 82. 7, 142. 2, all P 0. 05 ). Serum level of GFAP in PD patients had no significant correlation with their age. There was no significant difference in serum GFAP between two sub-groups of patients with PD (P > 0.05 ). Conclusions Serum level of GFAP increased significantly in PD patients, as compared to healthy normal controls, but it is not specific. Serum GFAP in patients with PD maintained at certain high level with progression of the disease, indicating effect of astrocytes may persistently exist during the disease course. Key words: Parkinson diseases; Glial fibrillary acidic protein; Brain infarction