Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity: A determinant of levodopa response
- 31 July 1980
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
- Vol. 28 (2) , 278-286
- https://doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1980.161
Abstract
In 14 patients with Parkinson''s disease on long-term therapy the erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activity correlated with the average plasma concentration ratio of 3-O-methyldopa to L-dopa and with the fasting plasma concentration ratio of 3-O-methyldopa to L-dopa. Patients with the higher erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activities were those with less favorable clinical responses to L-dopa. As erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activity may reflect the activity of that enzyme in the major metabolizing tissues, catechol-O-methyltransferase activity would seem to be a significant determinant of response to L-dopa.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: