The role of buspirone in LIDs in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
THE ROLE OF BUSPIRONE IN ATTENUATING LEVODOPA-INDUCED DYSKINESIAS IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE: A CLINICAL AND POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY STUDY WITH 11C-PHNO.
IRAS ID
139087
Contact name
Paola Piccini
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London-Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Eudract number
2014-005422-35
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
The treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is still centred on the use of L-Dopa. Many patients who receive it may develop problematic side effects in their mobility such as L-Dopa induced dyskinesias (LIDs). To date the pathophysiology behind those LIDs is still not well known. Thus, there is a desperate need to explain them further and therefore alleviate them and improve the lives of the patients and their families. Recent work from our group has supported the hypothesis that the serotonergic system contributes in the development of the LIDs. Our recent study, using Positron Emission Tomography (PET), showed that the integrity of the striatal 5-HT neurons is similarly preserved in patients with PD either they had developed LIDs or not. Furthermore, in this study, buspirone (a 5HT1A partial agonist which dampens neurotransmitter release from 5-HT neurons) was given before the administration of L-DOPA in an acute clinical PET challenge at a high dose
In this current study we aim to further explore the role of buspirone in attenuating the LIDs compared to placebo. We wish to sought an improvement of the clinical symptoms and signs following buspirone administration prior to Levodopa treatment in an acute and chronic clinical challenge. In addition, we aim to confirm this effect with functional Imaging in vivo through Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with 11C-PHNO.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/1309
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion