Excretion of dopamine in diseases of basal ganglia

Abstract

The urinary excretion of catecholamines has been measured in 32 patients with disorders of the basal ganglia. Sixteen patients with Parkinsonism (idiopathic, postencephalitic, and arteriosclerotic types) had a significantly lower amount of dopamine in the urine during a 24-hour period than a group of 24 normal control subjects. In a group of 16 patients with various striatal syndromes the excretion of dopamine and epinephrine was significantly higher than normal. Norepinephrine excretion was similar in the three groups. The lowest mean value of urinary dopamine was found in postencephalitic Parkinsonism; the highest occurred in Wilson's disease.