title: Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome: biochemical approaches.
abstract: Haloperidol, a dopamine receptor blocking agent, is the most effective therapy for Tourette's syndrome. In five patients with Tourette's syndrome, we found in the CSF an elevated probenecid-induced accumulation of HVA, the major metabolite of dopamine. This supports the hypothesis that Tourette symptoms are related to an increased firing of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system; haloperidol relieves these symptoms by blocking dopamine receptors. Some similarities of Tourette's syndrome to Lesch-Nyhan's syndrome prompted us to compare these two disorders, obtaining data from a large number of Tourette patients. In a questionnaire completed by 114 patients with Tourette's syndrome, the incidence of self-destructive behavior was 43%, a family history of gout or hyperuricemia was present in 27%, and 11% had a family history of Tourette's syndrome or tics. We propose that Tourette's syndrome could be a genetic disorder of purine metabolism which may result in neurotransmitter abnormalities such as an increased brain dopamine turnover.
mesh_terms: D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D006220:Haloperidol; D006719:Homovanillic Acid