Abstract
The development of a neuroprotective or neuroregenerative therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) would be a major therapeutic advance. Unfortunately, results from a recent controlled clinical study delivering the neurotrophic factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), directly into brain did not demonstrate efficacy and safety of such a treatment. A critical review of available data suggests that there are questions that need to be answered before the future of GDNF as a therapy for PD can be determined.
Copyright (c) 2006 Movement Disorder Society.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Catheters, Indwelling
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factors / administration & dosage*
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factors / adverse effects
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Humans
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Multicenter Studies as Topic
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Nerve Regeneration / drug effects*
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Neuroprotective Agents / administration & dosage*
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Neuroprotective Agents / adverse effects
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Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
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Parkinsonian Disorders / drug therapy*
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Putamen / drug effects*
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Putamen / pathology
Substances
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factors
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Neuroprotective Agents