title: Reduced L-dopa absorption and increased clinical fluctuations in Helicobacter pylori-infected Parkinson's disease patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierantozzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietroiusti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sancesario
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lunardi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frasca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galante
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marciani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanzione
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa