Putaminal GDNF Administration, Retinal Epithelial Cells Improve PD Symptoms (AAN 2002)

Subject: Putaminal GDNF Administration, Retinal Epithelial Cells Improve PD Symptoms (AAN 2002)

Date: 4/23/2002

E-MOVE reports from the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 13-20, in Denver Colorado. Poster numbers, session numbers, and pages are from Neurology 2002;58(supplement 7).

1. Intraparenchymal putaminal administration of glial-derived neurotrophic factor in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease
SS Gil, NK Patel, K O'Sullivan, DJ Brooks, GR Hotton, C Svendsen, P Heywood
S31.003, A241

Direct infusion of GDNF to the putamen improves symptoms of PD, according to this study.

Five patients received GDNF to the putamen delivered via mini-pump and implanted cannula. At 12 months, off time was reduced, on time increased, and dyskinesias were improved. Total UPDRS off score declined from approximately 60 at baseline to approximately 35 at 12 months.

The authors note their results are in contrast to a previous double-blind trial of intraventricular GDNF (http://www.wemove.org/emove/article.asp?ID=327). They suggest the difference may be due to the direct delivery to the putamen in this study.

2. Stereotaxic intrastriatal implantation of retinal pigment epithelial cells attached to microcarriers in advanced Parkinson disease: Long-term follow-up
RL Watts, CD Raiser, NP Stover, ML Cornfeldt, AW Schweikert, RC Allen, T Subramanian, RAE Bakay
S 31.004, A241

Implantation of dopamine-producing retinal cells can improve PD symptoms for at least one year, according to this study. This report is a follow-up to the initial results, presented last year at the AAN and archived at http://www.wemove.org/emove/article.asp?ID=327.

The six patients in this study continue to benefit from the implanted cells at the 12-month follow-up. The authors report that benefit appears to level off at approximately 9 months, with UPDRS motor off scores improving approximately 40% from baseline. Dyskinesias and off time also improved.

Supported by Titan Pharmaceuticals
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2002 E-MOVE conference reports are made possible in part through unrestricted educational grants from Elan Pharmaceuticals, Glaxo SmithKline, and Pharmacia Corporation.

E-MOVE Editor: Richard Robinson, NASW, WE MOVE

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