Plasma homocysteine levels in pergolide-treated Parkinson disease patients.
Hyperhomocysteinemia is as a risk factor for increased vascular disease in l-dopa-treated Parkinson disease (PD) patients. This effect of l-dopa is associated with the metabolism of l-dopa by methylation. This study aimed to assess the effect of pergolide on plasma homocysteine levels. Plasma homocysteine levels were compared between PD patients treated with pergolide as monotherapy, with l-dopa as monotherapy, or with an l-dopa and pergolide combination and compared with controls. Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the l-dopa monotherapy group, and there were no significant differences for the pergolide treatment groups. Pergolide can be beneficial for increased plasma homocysteine levels.
Department of Biochemistry, Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Eskisçehir, Turkey. scozkan@yahoo.com
Serhat
S
Ozkan
Omer
O
Colak
Ceyhan
C
Kutlu
Melek
M
Ertan
Ozkan
O
Alatas
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010479:Pergolide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D010479:Pergolide; D007980:Levodopa