Biomaterial Database

Metabolic studies and clinical observations during L-dopa treatment of Parkinson's disease. 1970

M J Peaston, and J R Bianchine

Twenty-two patients with Parkinson's disease were treated for the periods of up to six months with L-dopa. In nine of the male patients metabolic observations were made after oral administration of (14)C-L-dopa.Peak serum levels of total radioactivity represented small fractions of the dose given and occurred at one to two hours after ingestion. Two-thirds of the dose was excreted as metabolites in urine in eight hours. Insignificant fractions of the dose were excreted in stool and expired air. These results indicate rapid and complete absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as rapid distribution and excretion. Clinical observations confirmed that L-dopa is an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease. Improvements in disability averaged 47% at 30 days, 55% at 50 days, and 60% at three months. Degree of improvement tended to be inversely related to age of patient, duration of illness, and severity of disease. Side-effects were seen in most patients, but were always reversible with dose reduction. Nausea was the chief dose-limiting side-effects in early therapy and choreoathetosis after two months of treatment. The average tolerated daily dose was 3 g. On the basis of this experience it seems that the drug can be used safely and effectively on an outpatient basis provided that dosage increments are introduced gradually, maximum dosage is limited to 4 g. a day, and supervision is both close and continuous.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007408	Intestinal Absorption	Uptake of substances through the lining of the INTESTINES.	Absorption, Intestinal
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009325	Nausea	An unpleasant sensation in the stomach usually accompanied by the urge to vomit. Common causes are early pregnancy, sea and motion sickness, emotional stress, intense pain, food poisoning, and various enteroviruses.
D010300	Parkinson Disease	A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a TREMOR that is maximal at rest, retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the brainstem. LEWY BODIES are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may also be found in a related condition (LEWY BODY DISEASE, DIFFUSE) characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1059, pp1067-75)	Idiopathic Parkinson Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson Disease,Paralysis Agitans,Primary Parkinsonism,Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body,Parkinsonism, Primary
D002247	Carbon Isotopes	Stable carbon atoms that have the same atomic number as the element carbon but differ in atomic weight. C-13 is a stable carbon isotope.	Carbon Isotope,Isotope, Carbon,Isotopes, Carbon
D002819	Chorea	Involuntary, forcible, rapid, jerky movements that may be subtle or become confluent, markedly altering normal patterns of movement. Hypotonia and pendular reflexes are often associated. Conditions which feature recurrent or persistent episodes of chorea as a primary manifestation of disease are referred to as CHOREATIC DISORDERS. Chorea is also a frequent manifestation of BASAL GANGLIA DISEASES.	Choreatic Disorders,Choreiform Movement,Chorea Disorders,Chorea Syndromes,Chorea, Benign Hereditary,Chorea, Chronic Progressive,Chorea, Rheumatic,Chorea, Senile,Chorea, Sydenham,Choreatic Syndromes,Choreic Movement,Dyskinesias, Paroxysmal,Hereditary Chorea,Hereditary Progressive Chorea Without Dementia,Paroxysmal Dyskinesias,Rheumatic Chorea,Senile Chorea,St. Vitus's Dance,Sydenham Chorea,Sydenham's Chorea,Benign Hereditary Chorea,Benign Hereditary Choreas,Chorea Disorder,Chorea Syndrome,Chorea, Hereditary,Chorea, Sydenham's,Choreas,Choreas, Benign Hereditary,Choreas, Chronic Progressive,Choreas, Hereditary,Choreas, Rheumatic,Choreas, Senile,Choreas, Sydenham,Choreatic Disorder,Choreatic Syndrome,Choreic Movements,Choreiform Movements,Chronic Progressive Chorea,Chronic Progressive Choreas,Disorder, Chorea,Disorder, Choreatic,Disorders, Chorea,Disorders, Choreatic,Dyskinesia, Paroxysmal,Hereditary Chorea, Benign,Hereditary Choreas,Hereditary Choreas, Benign,Movement, Choreic,Movement, Choreiform,Movements, Choreic,Movements, Choreiform,Paroxysmal Dyskinesia,Progressive Chorea, Chronic,Progressive Choreas, Chronic,Rheumatic Choreas,Senile Choreas,St. Vitus Dance,St. Vitus's Dances,St. Vituss Dance,Sydenham Choreas,Sydenhams Chorea,Syndrome, Chorea,Syndrome, Choreatic,Syndromes, Chorea,Syndromes, Choreatic
D004295	Dihydroxyphenylalanine	A beta-hydroxylated derivative of phenylalanine. The D-form of dihydroxyphenylalanine has less physiologic activity than the L-form and is commonly used experimentally to determine whether the pharmacological effects of LEVODOPA are stereospecific.	Dopa,3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine,3-Hydroxy-DL-tyrosine,Dihydroxyphenylalanine Hydrochloride, (2:1),beta-Hydroxytyrosine,3 Hydroxy DL tyrosine,3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine,beta Hydroxytyrosine
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man