title: Kantamaneni BD, Curzon G:Comparison of benefit from L-dopa in Parkinsonism with increase of amine metabolites in the CSF.
abstract: Homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations have been estimated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 16 and 18 patients respectively with Parkinsonism both before and during treatment with l-dopa. The rise of HVA correlated with dose of l-dopa. An increase of HVA concentration to less than 0·10 μg/ml. was associated with little or no clinical improvement. The five patients with the greatest increase of HVA concentration/g l-dopa showed little or no improvement from treatment and four of these patients had normal pre-treatment HVA and 5-HIAA. In those patients who responded well to l-dopa the CSF HVA/g l-dopa was intermediate between that of these two groups. It is suggested that change in HVA content of CSF during l-dopa treatment might be of value in the prediction of response to l-dopa.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D010648:Phenylacetates; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine