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.
Ozkan
Serhat
S
Department of Biochemistry, Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Eskisçehir, Turkey. scozkan@yahoo.com
Colak
Omer
O
Kutlu
Ceyhan
C
Ertan
Melek
M
Alatas
Ozkan
O
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