Use of Alpha-Methyl-Dopa (Alpha-Methyl-3,4-Dihydroxy-DL-Phenylalanine) in the Management of the Carcinoid Syndrome
- 11 May 1961
- journal article
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 264 (19) , 986-987
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm196105112641907
Abstract
RECENT reports1 , 2 of the efficacy of a new aromatic amine decarboxylase inhibitor, called alpha-methyl-dopa, in lowering serotonin blood levels by blocking metabolism of tryptophan at the 5-hydroxytryptophan level prompted clinical trial of this agent in a unique patient with proved carcinoid tumor, or argentaffinoma, a slow growing tumor that is constantly producing serotonin, which is believed at present to be the cause of the systemic flushes and important heart lesions characteristic of the malignant carcinoid syndrome. It is this relentless over-production of serotonin that adds to the malignancy of the carcinoid tumor. A drug that can neutralize this serotonin can . . .Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Serotonin Synthesis in Carcinoid PatientsNew England Journal of Medicine, 1960
- Decarboxylase Inhibition and Blood Pressure Reduction by α-Methyl-3,4-Dihydroxy-DL-phenylalanineScience, 1960