The controversy concerning plasma homocysteine in Parkinson disease patients treated with levodopa alone or with entacapone: effects of vitamin status

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2006 May-Jun;29(3):106-11. doi: 10.1097/01.WNF.0000220817.94102.95.

Abstract

Levodopa treatment of Parkinson disease results in hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) as a consequence of levodopa methylation by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Although inhibition of COMT should theoretically prevent or reduce levodopa-induced HHcy, results from several prospective studies are conflicting. Our review of these studies suggests that the ability of COMT inhibition to reduce or prevent levodopa-induced HHcy in Parkinson disease patients may be attributed to differences in the vitamin status of the study participants. In patients with low or low-normal folate levels, levodopa administration is associated with a greater increase in homocysteine and concomitant entacapone administration is associated with a greater reduction in homocysteine.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase / blood
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors
  • Catechols / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Folic Acid / blood
  • Homocysteine / blood*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / adverse effects
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use*
  • Nitriles
  • Parkinson Disease / blood*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Vitamin B 12 / blood
  • Vitamins / blood*

Substances

  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors
  • Catechols
  • Nitriles
  • Vitamins
  • Homocysteine
  • Levodopa
  • entacapone
  • Folic Acid
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase
  • Vitamin B 12