RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRAIN DOPAMINE TURNOVER AND THE THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE TO BROMOCRIPTINE

ABSTRACT The relationship between brain dopamine receptor stimulation by bromocriptine or levodopa and the relief of Parkinsonism was studied in 24 patients with Parkinson's disease. Bromocriptine, 30 mg daily for 20 weeks, elicited a significant improvement in the parkinsonian clinical features but it was significantly less than the subsequent improvement with levodopa and benserazide, 800 mg and 200 mg daily. There was a significant negative correlation between the pretreatment severity or HVA changes in the CSF and improvement of parkinsonian disability during bromocriptine treatment. Furthermore, it was found that clinical improvement and HVA responses in the CSF to dopamine receptor stimulation by bromocriptine may predict the clinical response to levodopa.