CATECHOLAMINES AND DOPAC / 3,4 DIHYDROXY-PHENYLACETIC ACID / LEVELS IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF L-DOPA TREATED PATIENTS

Abstract

This chapter discusses a study to investigate catecholamines and DOPAC (3,4 dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of L -dopa treated patients. Catecholamines and DOPAC were measured with radioenzymatic method in the CSF. CSF samples of 34 patients with different neuropsychiatric disorders (8 discopathics, 7 neurotics, 6 vascular encephalopathics, 5 extrapyramidal disorders, and 8 Parkinson's syndromes) were analyzed. DOPAC level was found to be 4.48 ng/ml in the control group (6 discopathics, 4 neurotics). There was a slight but definite tendency of increase of dopamine (DA) and DOPAC levels in the CSF of patients with vascular encephalopathy, which was diminished parallel with the appearance of extrapyramidal disorders. L -dopa treatment resulted a significant increase in DA and DOPAC concentrations of the CSF (4 Parkinson's syndromes). This increase was augmented by the simultaneous administration of decarboxylase inhibitor (bensarazide, Madopar, 4 Parkinson's syndromes). A slight increase of noradrenaline levels was also observed in the CSF. The increase of DA was extremely high after acute Madopar administration (2 discopathics, 3 neurotics).