Increased dopamine content in lymphocytes from high-dose L-Dopa-treated Parkinson's disease patients.
OBJECTIVE
The intracellular (i.c.) content of dopamine and its metabolites was measured in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and healthy controls.


METHODS
Catecholamine levels of PBLs were measured using capillary electrophoresis in healthy controls and PD patients receiving different doses of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-Dopa).


RESULTS
Higher i.c. dopamine content was found in lymphocytes from PD patients receiving a high dose of L-Dopa (700 +/- 30 mg/day) as compared to lymphocytes from the healthy controls (p = 0.002) and from PD patients treated with a low dose of L-Dopa (400 +/- 30 mg/day) (p = 0.022). The dihydroxyphenylacetic acid to dopamine ratio was significantly lower in the high-dose L-Dopa-treated PD patients than in the controls (p = 0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the dopamine content and metabolism in the peripheral lymphocytes of PD patients are influenced by L-Dopa administration. This is the first study in which a dose-related effect of L-Dopa treatment was found in lymphocytes from PD patients.
Rajda
Cecilia
C
Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Dibó
Gyorgy
G
Vécsei
László
L
Bergquist
Jonas
J
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine