Reduced L-dopa absorption and increased clinical fluctuations in Helicobacter pylori-infected Parkinson's disease patients.
We report that the area under the curve of L-dopa plasma concentration, following the administration of a single 250 mg L-dopa dose, is augmented after Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication in six Parkinson's disease (PD) patients showing high IgG antibody titer against HP. A prolongation of L-dopa clinical benefit was also observed. We suggest that HP infection-activated gastric alterations may be responsible, at least in part, for the reported erratic efficacy of oral L-dopa therapy in some advanced PD patients. Given the high percentage of HP-positivity in the age cohorts including the largest prevalence of PD patients, we propose that HP eradication be recommended in all PD patients under L-dopa therapy.
Pierantozzi
M
M
Neurological Clinic, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Pietroiusti
A
A
Sancesario
G
G
Lunardi
G
G
Fedele
E
E
Giacomini
P
P
Frasca
S
S
Galante
A
A
Marciani
M G
MG
Stanzione
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa