Tetrahydrobiopterin and Parkinson's disease

Acta Neurol Scand. 1989 Jun;79(6):493-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1989.tb03820.x.

Abstract

Two patients with Parkinson's disease were treated with 1 g tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) for 5 days. Clinical improvement was not observed. In the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) a 4-8 fold increase in the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA), and a 3-fold increase in the concentration of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) was measured. However, the concentration of HVA reached, was only approximately half as high, as that of patients treated with madopar (DOPA + benserazid). In urine, the excretion of HVA increased 13-37 fold, when the patients were treated with madopar, whereas no increase in the HVA excretion was measured after the BH4 administration. Additionally, 2 patients with Parkinson's disease were treated with 1 g BH4 in combination with 15 g tyrosine for 3 days, and 1 parkinsonian patient was treated with 15 g tyrosine daily for 7 weeks. No increase in the CSF concentrations of HVA or 5-HIAA was observed. The results suggest, the BH4 in the dosage used, is not effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benserazide / therapeutic use
  • Biopterins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Biopterins / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Combinations / therapeutic use
  • Homovanillic Acid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Homovanillic Acid / urine
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / urine
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Tyrosine / blood
  • Tyrosine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • benserazide, levodopa drug combination
  • Biopterins
  • Tyrosine
  • Levodopa
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
  • Benserazide
  • sapropterin
  • Homovanillic Acid