A Clinical and Metabolic Study of Dopa (3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and Methyldopa in Huntington's Chorea

Abstract

Following upon previous investigations at this Institute on diseases of the basal ganglia, clinical and metabolic studies were carried out in 4 patients with Huntington''s chorea, one with Leriche''s syndrome, and one with post-encephalitic Parkinsonism. The metabolism of L- and D-dopa (3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine) administered to the subjects by intravenous and oral routes, respectively, was studied in regard to urinary metabolites of the amino acid. The results do not indicate in this paper any outstanding divergence from normal persons treated similarly. A clinical study of the action of alpha-methyldopa in3 choreic patients, given the drug for long periods of time, showed limited clinical benefits and temporary amelioration of the electroencephologram (EEG) pattern.