GALLIUM-TRANSFERRIN BINDING IN TREATED AND UNTREATED PARKINSONS-DISEASE

THE binding of gallium (Ga) to transferrin (Tf) was studied in plasma from control patients, in patients with untreated Parkinson's disease (PD) and in patients with PD treated either with levodopa (L-dopa) alo ne or in combination with selegiline. Mean percentage Ga-Tf binding wa s significantly reduced in untreated and treated PD compared with cont rols. Binding, however, was significantly greater in treated than in u ntreated patients. There was no difference in binding between patients treated with L-dopa alone and those treated with L-dopa and selegilin e. The data support the hypothesis that oxidation reactions may be of pathogenic significance in PD.