Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of N-acetylcysteine after oral administration in Parkinson's disease. Issue 5 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katz, Maya; Won, Seok Joon; Park, Youngja; Orr, Adrienne; Jones, Dean P.; Swanson, Raymond A.; Glass, Graham A.
• Is Part Of: Parkinsonism & related disorders. Volume 21:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 500
• Page End: 503
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Parkinson's disease -- Periodicals; Movement disorders -- Periodicals; Movement Disorders -- Periodicals; Nerve Degeneration -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Parkinson Disease -- Periodicals; Tremor -- Periodicals; Parkinson, Maladie de -- Périodiques; Parkinson's disease; 616.833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.02.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8020

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sectitle0015">Introduction</title> <p id="abspara0010">Depletion of neuronal glutathione may contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can restore neuronal glutathione levels, but it has not been established whether NAC can cross the blood–brain barrier in humans.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0020">Methods</title> <p id="abspara0015">Twelve patients with PD were given oral NAC twice daily for 2 days. Three doses were compared: 7 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg, and 70 mg/kg. NAC, cysteine, and glutathione were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at baseline and 90 min after the last dose. Cognitive and motor functions were assessed pre- and post-NAC administration using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III motor subscore (UPDRS-III).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0025">Results</title> <p id="abspara0020">Oral NAC produced a dose-dependent increase in CSF NAC concentrations (p < 0.001), with the highest dose producing a CSF concentration of 9.26 ± 1.62 μM. There were no significant adverse events. NAC had no acute effect on motor or cognitive function.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0030">Conclusion</title> <p id="abspara0025">Orally administered NAC produces biologically relevant CSF NAC concentrations at doses that are well tolerated. The findings support the feasibility of NAC as a potential disease-modifying therapy for PD.</p> </sec> </abstract>