Serum Uric Acid Level as a Prognostic Factor in Benign Essential Tremor

Abstract

Objective: Decreased serum uric acid has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the elderly. Several studies suggest that there may be a link between PD and Essential tremor (ET) which is thought to be a neurodegenerative disease. Serum uric acid level (UA) and its relationship with prognosis in ET patients have not been addressed. Study Population: The current study was conducted in the outpatient neurology unit of Istanbul Medeniyet University Medical Faculty Göztepe Teaching Hospital between May 2011 and Sep 2013. Methods: Subjects with ET were evaluated. We collected serum samples to determine biochemical indicators including UA, glucose, blood lipids, liver function, and renal function. All the patients with vascular risk factors, dementia, depression or other neurodegenerative disorders were excluded, as were the subjects on uric acid-lowering therapy or with serious illnesses such as severe anemia, chronic renal failure, hepatic disease or active or ongoing cardiovascular or cerebral vascular disease. One hundred and sixteen subjects (52 isolated ET patients and 64 healthy controls well matched in comparison of age and sex) were enrolled. Results: UA level was similar between the groups. Follow-up UA levels of the patients were similar to controls, too. UA level correlated to age, ET starting age, cholesterol level and creatinine level (p<0.05). Conclusion: There were reasonable epidemiological evidences to support a link between ET and UA level, but we did not find any difference between serum UA levels of ET patients and controls in follow-up. Age was one of the factors contributing to the increased content of UA in the blood serum of especially the man with ET. These findings also supported the knowledge about isolated form of ET which was stable and benign.