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Article
The Controversy Concerning Plasma Homocysteine in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Treated with Levodopa alone or with Entacapone: Effects of Vitamin Status
Clinical Neuropharmacology (2006)
  • Kelly L. Sullivan, University of South Florida
  • Theresa A. Zesiewicz, University of South Florida
  • Lynn Wecker, University of South Florida
  • Robert A. Hauser, University of South Florida
  • Lisa R. Merlin, University of South Florida
Abstract
Levodopa treatment of Parkinson disease results in hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) as a consequence of levodopa methylation by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Although inhibition of COMT should theoretically prevent or reduce levodopa-induced HHcy, results from several prospective studies are conflicting. Our review of these studies suggests that the ability of COMT inhibition to reduce or prevent levodopa-induced HHcy in Parkinson disease patients may be attributed to differences in the vitamin status of the study participants. In patients with low or low-normal folate levels, levodopa administration is associated with a greater increase in homocysteine and concomitant entacapone administration is associated with a greater reduction in homocysteine.
Keywords
  • Plasma Homocysteine,
  • Parkinson Disease,
  • Levodopa,
  • Entacapone,
  • Vitamin Status
Disciplines
Publication Date
May 29, 2006
DOI
10.1097/01.WNF.0000220817.94102.95
Citation Information
Kelly L. Sullivan, Theresa A. Zesiewicz, Lynn Wecker, Robert A. Hauser, et al.. "The Controversy Concerning Plasma Homocysteine in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Treated with Levodopa alone or with Entacapone: Effects of Vitamin Status" Clinical Neuropharmacology Vol. 29 Iss. 3 (2006) p. 106 - 111 ISSN: 1537-162X
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kelly_sullivan/124/