[Exploration of the tubero-hypophyseal dopaminergic system in patients with chronic parkinsonism during chronic treatment with L-DOPA].

The changes in prolactin release induced by acute doses of L-Dopa + benserazide (250 mg) were analysed in Parkinson disease patients undergoing various drug treatments. The results obtained indicate a highly significant increase in prolactinaemia after 60 minutes in a patient undergoing chronic L-Dopa + benserazide therapy, compared to both healthy subjects and patients receiving other drugs. A patient receiving L-Dopa with no inhibitor also showed significantly high prolactinaemia levels after 180 mins. This confirms the hypothesis that elderly Parkinson patients suffer from chronic denervation of the hypothalamic receptors even when no Dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor is present.