[Catecholamines and the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity of the blood plasma in motor pathology in children: the role of central and peripheral mechanisms].

Plasma catecholamine levels and serum dopamine-beta-hydrolase (D beta H) activity were investigated using high-performance chromatography and spectrophotometry, respectively, in 32 patients aged 10-14 with various motor pathology. Group 1 patients (21 children with spastic diplegia and clinical signs of central catecholaminergic neuromediation deficiency) received Nakom in a single daily dose 60 mg in the morning. The treatment produced a good clinical effect. Six children of group 2 with hereditary degenerative cerebral, spinal, nervous diseases and 5 children of group 3 with lower spastic paraplegia consequent to spinal cord trauma inflicted 6-12 months: before received Nakom in a single daily dose 30 mg in the morning for 14 days. The treatment in them resulted in an essential decrease of pelvic dysfunctions. All the children had a high DOPA level in blood plasma irrespective of the group and Nakom administration. Pretreatment dopamine (DA) levels were different: the least in cerebral palsy patients (0.019 +/- 0.01 ng/ml), the highest in group 2 (p < 0.05), in children with spinal cord pathology it was higher than normal and higher than in group 1 (p < 0.001). Nakom treatment promoted DA normalization in all the groups. Norepinephrine (NE) concentrations were very low in all the patients correlating with the degenerative process degree and did not change in response to Nakom administration. D beta H activity was inhibited in all the groups, especially in the spinal patients. Nakom increased both D beta H activity (p < 0.01) and motor activity. Thus, an increased DOPA level is plasma is not specific for nervous diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)