I ran across the following:
Maki, T., Sonoda, Y., Sugita, K. Plasma atrial natriuretic
peptide (ANP) levels in Parkinson's disease--with special reference
to foot edema. Rinsho Shinkeigaku (1990 Jun) 30(6):605-9.
From the abstract:
" Edema in Parkinson's disease has been considered to be caused by
autonomic nervous system dysfunctions, however little is still known
about the exact pathophysiological mechanism involved. . . . .
. . Thirty four cases of Parkinson's disease were studied. . . .
. . . . . . The incidence of foot edema in Parkinson's disease was
approximately 30% of the cases studied, with a tendency to be more
common in patients in the Yahr stages II and III groups. Predilection
sites of the edema were observed from the pretibial to dorsal pedis
of both lower thighs, especially on the side most severely affected
by the disease. Onset of the edema was difficult to clarify because
almost all of the patients with foot edema did not notice the edema
by themselves. There was no clear relationship between edema and L-
DOPA treatment of Parkinson's disease. For treatment of the edema,
oral administration of Furosemide was effective in many cases,
however the efficacy tended to gradually decrease. . . . ."
[Furosemide is a diuretic.]
Phil ("Big Foot")
