Sebum secretion in idiopathic Parkinson's disease: effect of anticholinergic and dopaminergic drugs

Abstract

Sebum secretion was measured on the foreheads of 47 unmedicated patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, aged 50-81 years and 80 healthy, matched volunteers. Sebum secretion was significantly higher in men patients aged 50-59 years than in controls; no such difference was observed in women of the same age. There was also no difference between patients and volunteers of either gender older than 60 years of age. The effects of either biperiden, L-Dopa + benserazide (a decarboxylase inhibitor) or bromocriptine treatments on sebum secretion and on 5 parkinsonian signs were evaluated over 127 days. There was a significant reduction of all measures during the treatment with the dopaminergic drugs. The only observable effect with biperiden was reduction of tremor. It is discussed whether the sebum suppressive effect of the dopaminergic drugs may be explained through their central effects.

Skin function and skin disorders in Parkinson’s disease

“…It is possible that the effect of a combination therapy is significant. The lack of correlation between L-dopa doses and seborrhoea found here corresponds with the results of other investigations (Burton and Shuster, 1970;Kohn et al, 1973;Villares and Carlini, 1989). This lack of L-dopa dependent effects on seborrhoea is supported by the observation, that the L-dopa doses differ significantly between patients with tremor-dominated and akinetic-rigid Parkinson's disease but not the sebum production.…”

“…This is lower than that given in the literature, where a prevalence of up to 52% has been reported (Baas and Fischer, 1984). Several reasons may be possible: As a pre-treated patient collective only is investigated, a druginduced reduction in sebum production could be expected, as already described for L-dopa (Burton and Shuster, 1970;Kohn et al, 1973) and anticholinergic agents (Villares and Carlini, 1989). However, a concomitant sebostatic effect such as described by Cotterill et al (1971) for L-dopa and Martignoni et al (1997) for dopamine agonists was not found.…”

“…However, the significant correlation between sebum values at the different parts of the body indicates that the physiological distribution pattern of sebum production (forehead > sternum > extremities) is maintained in Morbus Parkinson. This suggests a systemically effective stimulation of the sebaceous glands, a-MSH, a neuropeptide derivative of proopiomelanocortin has often been suggested as the stimulant (Baas and Fischer, 1984;Villares and Carlini, 1989;Wintzen and Gilchrest, 1996). If systemic stimulation of the sebaceous glands is taking place, the lack of correlation between the laterality of the neurological symptoms and sebum production can be explained.…”

Neuroendocrinology and neurobiology of sebaceous glands

“…Increased sebum secretion can also be seen in diseases characterised by abnormally high levels of serum PRL (Table ). For example, in addition to the classic symptoms of tremor and bradykinesia, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit elevated PRL levels (Agnoli et al ., ; Wiesen, Yahr & Krieger, ; Winkler, Landau & Chaudhuri, ; Nitkowska et al ., ) and excessive sebum production (Pochi, Strauss & Mescon, ; Burton et al ., ; Binder & Jonelis, ; Villares & Carlini, ; Martignoni et al ., ). Under normal conditions, the release of PRL from the lactotropic cells of the anterior pituitary is inhibited by a tract of neurons referred to as the tuberoinfundibular pathway (Fitzgerald & Dinan, ) (Fig.…”

Is seborrhea a sign of autonomic impairment in Parkinson's disease?

“…In subsequent years a small number of studies concerning seborrhea have been published, the results of which are difficult to compare, due to the different methods used and the small number of subjects examined (Agache and Blanc, 1982;Villares and Carlini, 1989).…”