Abstract
BackgroundLower serum uric acid (UA) levels have been reported as a risk factor in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the results have been inconsistent so far.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to clarify the potential relationship of uric acid with PD.MethodsComprehensive electronic search in pubmed, web of science, and the Cochrane Library database to find original articles about the association between PD and serum uric acid levels published before Dec 2015. Literature quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects model was used to estimate the standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using I2 and H2 statistics. Sensitivity analyses to assess the influence of individual studies on the pooled estimate. Publication bias was investigated using funnel plots and Egger’s regression test. Analyses were performed by using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 11.0.ResultsThirteen studies with a total of 4646 participants (2379 PD patients and 2267 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. The current results showed that the serum UA levels in PD patients were significantly lower compared to sex and age-matched healthy controls (SMD: -0.49, 95% CI: [-0.67, -0.30], Z = 5.20, P < 0.001) and these results showed no geographic regional (Asia: SMD = −0.65, 95% CI [−0.84, −0.46], Z = 6.75, p <0.001; Non-Asia: SMD = −0.25, 95% CI [−0.43, −0.07], Z = 2.70, p = 0.007) and sex differences (women: SMD = −0.53, 95% CI [−0.70, −0.35], z = 5.98, p <0.001; men: SMD = −0.66, 95% CI [−0.87, −0.44], z = 6.03, p <0.001). Serum UA levels in middle-late stage PD patients with higher H&Y scales were significantly lower than early stage PD patients with lower H&Y scales (SMD = 0.63, 95% CI [0.36,0.89], z = 4.64, p <0.001).ConclusionsOur study showed that the serum UA levels are significantly lower in PD and the level is further decreased as the disease progresses. Thus it might be a potential biomarker to indicate the risk and progression of PD.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 1–2% of the population over 60 years[1]
Comprehensive electronic search in pubmed, web of science, and the Cochrane Library database to find original articles about the association between PD and serum uric acid levels published before Dec 2015
Serum Uric acid (UA) levels in middle-late stage PD patients with higher H&Y scales were significantly lower than early stage PD patients with lower H&Y scales (SMD = 0.63, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) [0.36,0.89], z = 4.64, p
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 1–2% of the population over 60 years[1]. The cause and pathogenesis resulting from the loss of selective dopamine neurons in PD remain elusive. Increasing evidence suggests that an oxidative stress plays an important role in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD[3]. Numerous large prospective studies have shown that the high levels of serum or plasma urate reduced the risk of PD [7,8]. The association between serum urate levels and PD has gained intensive interests, but results of these studies have been inconsistent. Our previous studies showed that the serum UA levels in PD patients were significantly lower than sex and age-matched healthy controls and the UA concentrations were decreased with the deterioration of the illness[24]. Lower serum uric acid (UA) levels have been reported as a risk factor in Parkinson’s disease (PD).
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