Continuous infusion of substance derived from specialized brain cells improves symptoms and quality of life for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a UK report.

The substance, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), is obtained from lab-grown glial cells, which play a supporting role to neurons in the brain.

The clinical effects of 12 months of continuous infusion of GDNF into an area of the brain called the putamen were reported earlier, and now Dr. Steven S. Gill from Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, UK, and colleagues report the results after 2 years of continuous infusion in five patients with Parkinson’s.

At 24 months, the team reports in the Annals of Neurology, there was about a 50 percent improvement in movement control and functional performance.

All aspects of quality of life were improved at both 12 and 24 months, the researchers note.

Most measures of neuropsychological function remained unchanged at both 12 and 24 months, the results indicate, whereas a parallel comparison group experienced significant declines on several measures.

GDNF was tolerated well, the report indicates, though all patients experienced intermittent electric shock-like sensations down the spine and into the limbs upon flexing the neck.

“Our results indicate GDNF’s potential as a therapeutic agent in Parkinson’s disease , from its ability not only to provide symptomatic relief, but also to possibly modify the disease state, distinct from other current therapeutic strategies,” Gill and colleagues conclude. “However, continuing dopamine replacement was required.”

SOURCE: Annals of Neurology, February 2005.