Summary
HVA, the main dopamine catabolite, was shown to be decreased in CSF of parkinsonian patients. A significant relationship was also shown between clinical improvement and HVA concentration increase in CSF. It was, however, recently claimed that such increase was not specific.
A study on the CSF concentrations of HVA and 5-HIAA (the main serotonin metabolite) was undertaken on 10 parkinsonian patients. The determinations were made before and after l-DOPA therapy, when a satisfactory clinical status was achieved. The results obtained clearly demonstrate that a large increase of HVA was found in CSF during l-DOPA therapy, but no relationship was found between HVA levels and clinical improvement. A decrease of 5-HIAA in CSF during l-DOPA treatment was found.
These results are discussed in the light of a relationship between dopamine and serotonin during l-DOPA therapy.
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Casati, C., Agnoli, A., Jori, A. et al. On the relationship between l-DOPA therapy and CSF monoamine metabolites in parkinson's disease. J Neurol 204, 149–154 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315939
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315939