[Respiratory regulation during adaptation to intermittent hypoxia in patients with Parkinson disease].

Ventilatory responses to hypoxic (HVR) and hypercapnic (HCVR) stimuli in relation with dopamine (DA) and DAs precursor dihydroxy phenylalanine (DOPA) venous blood content were studied in healthy people aged 55-65 years (Gr. 1) and Parkinson's disease (PD) patients without (Gr. 2) and with (Gr. 3) L-DOPA treatment under intermittent hypoxic training (IHT, three identical daily isocapnic, progressive, hypoxic rebreathing sessions separated by 5-minute breaks for 14 consecutive days). HVR in Gr. 2, when compared to Gr. 1, was 48% lower showing almost linear dependence and was accompanied by lower levels of blood DOPA and DA content (26% and 20%, respectively). HVR in Gr. 3 was only 17% lower compared to Gr. 1 and was accompanied by higher levels of blood DOPA and DA content (40% and 147%, respectively). No differences in HCVR between groups were registered. IHT produced a 75% increase in HVR in Gr. 1 (p < 0.05), 52% augmentation of HVR in Gr. 2 (p < 0.05, at that the curves became hyperbolic in shape), and 2.2-fold increase in Gr. 3 (p < 0.01). The augmentation of hypoxic sensitivity under IHT was accompanied by significant decrease in DOPA blood concentration in Gr. 1 and Gr. 3, although no changes in Gr. 2 were observed. It was no changes in DA blood content in all groups. IHT produced no significant changes in HCVR. This investigation confirms the conception that PD is accompanied by DA deficit not only in basal ganglia but also in peripheral chemoreceptors provoking a decrease in hypoxic ventilatory sensitivity. PD does not influence on hypercapnic sensitivity. L-DOPA-treatment as well as IHT improve the functioning of respiratory system, increase HVR and do not influence on HCVR. The method of IHT can be involved in complex therapy of PD.