Bromocriptine and dopaminergic function in Huntington disease.
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) content of homovanillic acid (HVA) was assayed in 10 patients with Huntington disease. On doses of less than 40 mg of bromocriptine daily, there was clinical improvement and the CSF HVA concentration increased. On higher doses of bromocriptine, chorea worsened and the CSF HVA concentration decreased. Bromocriptine at low dosage seems to act as a partial dopamine antagonist, with phenothiazine-like effects, and at higher doses it acts as a direct dopamine-receptor stimulating agent.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D001971:Bromocriptine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid