Ventricular somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in patients with basal ganglia disease.

The concentrations of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in lateral ventricular fluid of patients with extrapyramidal motor disease were determined by specific radio-immunoassay. Mean SLI levels were significantly lower in patients with Parkinson's disease (mean +/- SEM); 42.9 +/- 2.9 fmol/ml) and in patients with dystonic syndromes (39.4 +/- 3.2) than in patients with benign essential tremor (65.3 +/- 9.7). The lowest levels were found in patients with athetosis (34.7 +/- 5.4). In parkinsonian patients somatostatin levels correlated with the degree of akinesia, rigidity and autonomic disturbances.