N. Andreu et al., A DOSE-RANGING STUDY OF SELEGILINE IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSONS-DISEASE - EFFECT ON PLATELET MONOAMINE-OXIDASE ACTIVITY, Movement disorders, 12(3), 1997, pp. 293-296
A dose-ranging study of selegiline was performed in patients with Park
inson's disease to determine the minimal dosage of the drug able to in
hibit greater than or equal to 95% of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO)
activity. Different doses of selegiline (5 or 10 mg daily, 10 or 20 m
g weekly) were studied in four groups of six patients with Parkinson's
disease. Platelet MAO activity was measured before and after 1 month'
s treatment with selegiline. The doses of 5 or 10 mg daily and 20 mg (
i.e., 10 mg x 2) weekly induced a complete inhibition of platelet MAO-
B activity from day 7 to day 28 (96.0-99.5%). In contrast, platelet MA
O-B inhibition was only 75.9% of the basal value after a dosage of 10
mg weekly. These results demonstrate that 20 mg weekly is the minimal
dosage of selegiline able to induce a maximal and long-lasting inhibit
ion of platelet MAO-B activity in patients with parkinsonism. Further
clinical trials are needed to investigate the clinical efficacy of thi
s dose.