Homocysteine levels after acute levodopa intake in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Levodopa (L-dopa) administered with a dopadecarboxylase inhibitor (DDI) increases homocysteine plasma levels. This may support the onset of atherosclerosis-related disorders and neuropsychiatric complications in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This homocysteine elevation is considered as long-term effect of chronic L-dopa/DDI treatment. Little is known about the acute effects of L-dopa/DDI intake on homocysteine generation. The objective of this trial was to investigate the relations between L-dopa and homocysteine after acute L-dopa/DDI administration in PD patients with different L-dopa metabolism. Thirty PD patients were divided into groups with superior (I) and less (II) L-dopa absorption after standardized intake of 125 mg L-dopa/benserazide with determination of L-dopa, 3-O-methyl-dopa (3-OMD) and homocysteine in plasma at baseline, 30, 60, and 90 minutes. There was a homocysteine increase in Group I (F = 5; P = 0.005) and a moderate decrease in Group II (F = 4.27; P = 0.01). A rise of 3-OMD (F = 10.51; P < 0.0001) appeared in Group I, but not in Group II (F = 0.91; P = 0.44), accordingly L-dopa accumulation was better in Group I than in Group II. Thus, in conclusion, L-dopa metabolism is an important component for homocysteine elevation after one time L-dopa/DDI administration in PD patients.
Müller
Thomas
T
Department of Neurology, St. Joseph Hospital Berlin-Weissensee, Germany. th.mueller@alexius.de
Kuhn
Wilfried
W
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D014443:Tyrosine; D007980:Levodopa; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; C008404:3-methoxytyrosine