title: ECT in Parkinson's disease. Changes in motor symptoms, monoamine metabolites and neuropeptides.
abstract: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was given to 16 non-depressed, non-demented patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). In all the patients an antiparkinsonian effect was seen, lasting for 18 months in one patient, 3-5 months in seven patients, and a few days to four weeks in eight patients. After ECT the levels of homovanillic acid and neuropeptide Y in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were significantly increased. The eight patients with long lasting motor improvement after ECT had significantly lower CSF-3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol compared to the group with short lasting improvement. Five patients developed transitory mental confusion after ECT. In these patients, and in no others, a high albumin-ratio was found already before ECT was given - an indication of blood CSF barrier damage. Our results suggest that ECT is valuable in patients with drug refractory PD or PD with intolerance to antiparkinsonian drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Granérus
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Thorell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wålinder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D009479:Neuropeptides; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D006719:Homovanillic Acid