To: Lionel Modra, Larry Fleming & Nancy V.
You have each asked me for the citation to the
Selegiline study I referred to in my posting of 2/11/98.
>>>Can you point us to the study on the neuroprotective
effect of selegiline that you mention. Or perhaps post it.<<<
Dr. Matthew Stern, M.D., the head of the Movement
Disorders Center, at the University of Pennsylvania, Phila.,
published "A dose-ranging study of selegiline in PD
patients," in the July 1997 supplement to Neurology , 49(1
Supp 1) - S2 - S9. Patients were tested on various doses
(5mg or 10mg daily & 10mg or 20 mg weekly). 24 patients
took part. The conclusion was that 20mg weekly was the
minimal dose necessary to achieve maximum
neuroprotective activity.
Anyone should be able to retrieve a summary of the study
from the National Library of Medicine-Medline search, using
the locator citation PMID: 9222270. To access Medline I use
the URL from my old account:
http://130.14.32.42/cgi-bin/startIGM?account=&password=
however, now you should to be able to gain free access
using -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/freemedl.html
another source for this information might be Janet Peterson
who occasionally posts Medline Abstracts -
<[log in to unmask]>
Since the beneficial effect of selegiline has been debated
in this forum recently, you may wish to read the following:
From: Stephan Schwartz
Date: 10/29/97 4:19pm
Subject: Re: Selegiline
On 10/29 Brian inquired:
>>> Brian Collins <[log in to unmask]> 10/29/97
04:32am >>>
>>> Maybe Stephan or Janet can answer this question:
seem to recollect that most of the reports that come along
deal mostly with Selegiline in combination with Levodopa.
Are there any dealing with Selegiline as the only input ?<<<
Good evening Brian:
Quick answer - yes. In Neurology, February 1996, v.46No.2,
a team of researchers conducted a study of the effects of
selegiline alone and in combination with bromocriptine
(Parlodel). It was called the PARJUPAR STUDY, in
Portugal, by A. Castro-Caldas. The study lasted three years
and found that both (individually and together) meds have a
beneficial effect in delaying the need for levodopa therapy.
The researchers would not go so far as to opine that
selegiline exhibited a neuroprotective effect, but they did
report a lessening of PD symptoms, thereby delaying or
sparing the need for levodopa.
-and-
From: Stephan Schwartz
Date: 10/28/97 4:09pm
Subject: Re: Selegiline - "limited term of Sinemet"
Brian:
My neurologist agrees with your 5 neuros (4 calling birds,
three french hens, oops):
The point in time at which a PWP starts drug therapy
with levodopa (Sinemet) does not activate some doomsday
scenario that results in increased disability after 5, 10, 15
years of treatment.
As the disease (death of brain cells) progresses there is
less natural dopamine released from the nerve cells and
fewer cells to process the levodopa. I do not think eldepryl
(selegiline) is the complete neuroprotective answer, but my
opinion (after 7 years) is that it couldn't hurt (flawed studies
to the contrary). One recent study suggested a positive
result with just 20mg eldepryl (four 5mg pills) in a seven day
period. As a result of this PD list multilogue I discussed with
my neuro cutting my eldepryl to one 5mg pill in the a.m. per
day. He agreed.
To avoid putting all my nerve cells in the same basket, I
also supplement my diet with vitamins, minerals and herbs to
achieve the maximum anti-oxidant affect. I think the cell
death is tied into increased free radicals in the blood.
-end-
Hope this information helps.
Stephan 53/7
