Simon KC1, Eberly S, Gao X, Oakes D, Tanner CM, Shoulson I, Fahn S, Schwarzschild MA, Ascherio A; on behalf of the Parkinson Study Group.



Author information

1Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Objective Higher serum urate concentrations predict more favorable prognosis in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to test the causality of this association using a mendelian randomization approach. Methods The study was conducted among participants in DATATOP and PRECEPT, two randomized trials among patients with early PD. The 808 patients with available DNA were genotyped for three SLC2A9 single nucleotide polymorphisms that identify an allele associated with lower urate concentrations, and for selected SNPs in other genes encoding urate transporters that have modest or no effect on serum urate levels. A SLC2A9 score was created based on the total number of minor alleles at the three SLC2A9 loci. Primary outcome was disability requiring dopaminergic treatment. Results Serum urate concentrations were 0.69mg/dL lower among individuals with 4 or more SLC2A9 minor alleles as compared to those with two or less (p = 0.0002). The hazard ratio (HR) for progression to disability requiring dopaminergic treatment increased with increasing SLC2A9 score (HR=1.16; 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.35; p=.056). In a comparative analysis, the HR was 1.27 (1.00 to 1.61; p =0.0497) for a 0.5 mg/dL genetically conferred decrease in serum urate, and 1.05 (1.01 to 1.10; p=0.0133) for a 0.5 mg/dL decrease in measured serum urate. No associations were found between polymorphisms in other genes associated with urate that do not affect serum urate and PD progression. Interpretation This Mendelian randomization analysis adds to the evidence of a causal protective effect of high urate levels. ANN NEUROL 2014. © 2014 American Neurological Association.

Copyright © 2014 American Neurological Association.


PMID: 25257975 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=25257975