Platelet monoamine oxidase B activity in 'de novo' and L-dopa treated parkinsonian patients and controls

Abstract

Objective: Previous studies demonstrated controversial results regarding monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity in platelets in the periphery in parkinsonian patients (PD). Subjects and Methods: Therefore we determined platelet MAO-B activity in three age- and sex-matched groups of 17 untreated, so called 'de novo' patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 17 parkinsonian patients, receiving levodopa, and 17 controls by a radio enzymatic assay. Results: No significant differences of MAO-B activity appeared. Conclusion: This result suggests that phenotypic determination of MAO-B activity in platelets may not be used as peripheral marker in PD and that levodopa treatment does not alter MAO-B activity in the periphery.