title: The effect of theophylline on parkinsonian symptoms.
abstract: Adenosine is known to inhibit the release of dopamine from central synaptic terminals. The present open trial was therefore conducted to determine whether the adenosine receptor-antagonist theophylline would be of value in Parkinson's disease. Fifteen parkinsonian patients were treated for up to 12 weeks with a slow release oral theophylline preparation (150 mg day-1), yielding serum theophylline levels of 4.44 mg L-1 after one week. The patients exhibited significant improvements in mean objective disability scores and 11 reported moderate or marked subjective improvement. It is suggested that theophylline might be a useful adjunct to the routine therapy of parkinsonian patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Fejer, Hungary.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mally
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013806:Theophylline / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013806:Theophylline