Abstract.
Embryonic dopamine cell transplants survive in nearly all patients regardless of age and without immunosuppression. Transplants can improve Parkinson “off” symptoms up to the best effects of L-dopa observed preoperatively. They cannot improve the “best on” state. Transplants appear to survive indefinitely. In 10 to 15% of patients, transplants can reproduce the dyskinetic effects of L-dopa even after discontinuing all L-dopa. Neurotransplantation should be tried earlier in the clinical course of Parkinson’s to see if earlier intervention can prevent progression of the disease, particularly the dyskinetic responses seen after longterm L-dopa treatment.
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Freed, C.R., Leehey, M.A., Zawada, M. et al. Do patients with Parkinson’s disease benefit from embryonic dopamine cell transplantation?. J Neurol 250 (Suppl 3), iii44–iii46 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-003-1308-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-003-1308-5