
Review Outlines Dermatologic Implications in Parkinson Disease
Researchers review the association between Parkinson disease and dermatologic disorders, as well as implications that this link may have on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Parkinson disease.
- noniatrogenic disorders, including melanoma, seborrheic dermatitis, sweating disorders, bullous pemphigoid, and rosacea; and
- iatrogenic disorders related either to systemic adverse effects of antiparkinsonian medications or to the delivery system of antiparkinsonian therapy, including carbidopa/levodopa, rotigotine and other dopamine agonists, and deep brain stimulation.
In examining skin disorders associated with PD and antiparkisonian therapies, the researchers additionally sought to assess the role of skin in pathogenic, diagnostic, and therapeutic considerations in PD.
Notably, recent advances in the understanding of α-synuclein, an abnormal protein suggested to have a central role in the pathogenesis of PD, now delineate its presence in peripheral tissue, including skin. In fact, a recent
“This small protein (140 amino acids), involved in a variety of cellular mechanisms, undergoes misfolding and aggregation in the brain as well as in the skin, and may contribute to some non-motor symptoms,” explained the researchers.
Adding to the pathogenic implications that skin may have, the review authors say that the presence of some skin disorders, particularly seborrheic dermatitis and sweating dysfunction, may be caused by peripheral autonomic dysfunction and can predate onset of motor symptoms in PD. Moreover, studies have found that patients with PD are at an increased risk of melanoma, which has led to some organizations to recommend that those with PD visit a dermatologist at least once a year for a skin check.
“This recommendation may be especially relevant in patients with PD who have a particularly high risk for developing melanoma such as Caucasian individuals with frequent and intense sun exposure, the greatest risk factor for melanoma,” the review authors wrote.
Concluding with therapeutic considerations in PD, the researchers highlighted the potential of pluripotent stem cells derived from skin fibroblasts among patients. A prior
Reference
Niemann N, Billnitzer A, Jankovic J. Parkinson’s disease and skin. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. Published online November 20, 2020. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.11.017
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