Acetylator polymorphism in Parkinson's disease.

Acetylator phenotype has been determined using sulphamethazine in 100 patients with Parkinson's disease and in 93 age-matched normal control subjects. Sixty-nine patients and 54 control subjects were classified as slow acetylators (NS). No relation was found among acetylator polymorphism and age at onset or clinical stage of disease. Amongst slow acetylators, the percentage of acetylated sulphamethazine in plasma was significantly lower in patients than in controls. Despite this finding, the results do not support any relationship between acetylator polymorphism and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.