title: Treatment of parkinsonism with L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine: a pharmacokinetic study.
abstract: We have examined the kinetics of oral L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) alone and combined with peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors in patients with Parkinson's disease and other degenerative diseases of the brain. Combined administration of L-threo-DOPS and carbidopa or benserazide produced higher plasma concentrations of L-threo-DOPS and suppressed the increase in plasma norepinephrine. This finding indicates some advantages of combined therapy with L-threo-DOPS and decarboxylase inhibitors. Measurable quantities of DL-threo-DOPS were found in the CSF during repeated administration, but there was no consistent change in norepinephrine concentration.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D015103:Droxidopa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009847:Olivary Nucleus; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011149:Pons; D012694:Serine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D012694:Serine; D015103:Droxidopa; D002230:Carbidopa