PMID: 9591516: COMT inhibition: a new treatment strategy for PD

[janet paterson <janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

COMT inhibition: a new treatment strategy for Parkinson's disease.

During the initial stages of Parkinson's disease, treatment with levodopa plus 
a decarboxylase inhibitor (carbidopa or benserazide) provides adequate control 
of symptoms.

However, as the disease progresses, the clinical response to treatment often 
begins to fluctuate, b             
ecomingincreasinglycorrelatedwithfluctuationsinplasmaconcentrationsoflevodopa-thewearing-offphenomenon.

Many strategies have attempted, with various degrees of success, to increase 
the availability of levodopa and its active metabolites, thus reducing these 
fluctuations in response.

This review focuses on the role of the new catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) 
inhibitors tolcapone and entacapone as adjuncts to levodopa therapy.

These agents act effectively and safely to increase the amount of levodopa that 
is available to enter the brain by extending the half-life of levodopa, 
resulting in more stable levels in the plasma and prolonging "on" time.


Neurology 1998 May;50(5 Suppl 5):S3-14
Kurth MC, Adler CH
Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA.
PMID: 9591516, UI: 98252190

<>

janet paterson
52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
613 256 8340 po box 171 almonte ontario canada K0A 1A0
a new voice: <>
<janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx>