title: Plasma homocysteine levels in Parkinson's disease: role of antiparkinsonian medications.
abstract: Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations have been reported in L-dopa treated Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, suggesting that L-dopa treatment is an acquired cause of hyperhomocysteinemia. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different antiparkinsonian drugs on Hcy concentrations. We compared Hcy, B(12) and folate levels in 45 PD patients (15 treated with dopamine-agonists, 15 with L-dopa and 15 with L-dopa plus a catechol-O-methyltransferase-inhibitor (COMT-I) and in 15 controls. Analysis of data revealed that L-dopa administration significantly increases Hcy concentrations and that the addition of COMT-I effectively reduces the homocysteinemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bari, Ospedale Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari 70124, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoccolella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armenise
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Mari
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mastronardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraddosio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iliceto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Livrea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D065098:Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D065098:Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006710:Homocysteine; D007980:Levodopa; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12