Orthostatic hypotension in Iranian patients with Parkinson’s disease

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the prevalence and clinical relevance of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Isfahan, Iran.

METHODS: We investigated 150 consecutive patients with PD (42 women, 108 men) in Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran from January 2002 to January 2004. Blood pressure was measured first in a supine position following a rest of at least 10 minutes, and then after 3 minutes of active standing. Data concerning the age, gender, duration of disease, and drug consumption were recorded in a questionnaire.

RESULTS: Orthostatic hypotension in PD is more frequent in women, patients taking a higher dose of levodopa, in higher age groups, and patients with longer duration of the disease, however, a statistically significant difference was seen in the female group and patients taking a higher dose of levodopa.

CONCLUSION: Orthostatic hypotension is mainly related to PD pathology and the clinical relevance of OH to gender, age, and disease duration may be due to the natural course for progression of human autonomic dysfunction during life. Higher doses of levodopa may increase the risk of OH.