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03-01-2024 | Parkinson Disease | Original article

Alpha-synuclein in peripheral body fluid as a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease

Authors: Hao Shu, Pengcheng Zhang, Lihua Gu

Published in: Acta Neurologica Belgica | Issue 3/2024

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Abstract

Objective

Whether alpha-synuclein in peripheral body fluids can be used for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains in controversy. This study evaluates diagnostic potential of alpha-synuclein for PD in various peripheral body fluids using a meta-analysis approach.

Methods

Studies published before October 2022 were searched in Web of Science and PubMed databases. The results were computed using the STATA 12.0 statistical software.

Results

In plasma, PD patients exhibited elevated alpha-synuclein levels relative to healthy controls (HCs) [standard mean difference (SMD) = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42 to 1.15] with a sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.64–0.89) and a specificity of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90–0.98). Higher plasma alpha-synuclein levels were correlated with longer disease durations, higher Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor scores, and higher Hoehn and Yahr stages in PD patients. Plasma neural-derived exosomal alpha-synuclein levels (SMD = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.30 to 3.35), ratio of plasma neural-derived exosomal alpha-synuclein to total alpha-synuclein (SMD = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.19 to 2.33), and erythrocytic alpha-synuclein levels were also increased in PD patients (SMD = 6.57, 95% CI = 3.55 to 9.58). In serum, there was no significant difference in alpha-synuclein levels between PD patients and HCs (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI = − 0.27 to 1.34). In saliva, reduced alpha-synuclein levels were observed in PD patients (SMD = − 0.85, 95% CI = − 1.67 to − 0.04).

Conclusions

Alpha-synuclein levels in plasma, plasma neural-derived exosome, erythrocyte, and saliva may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of PD.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Alpha-synuclein in peripheral body fluid as a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease
Authors
Hao Shu
Pengcheng Zhang
Lihua Gu
Publication date
03-01-2024
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Acta Neurologica Belgica / Issue 3/2024
Print ISSN: 0300-9009
Electronic ISSN: 2240-2993
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-023-02452-2

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