Inhibitory effect of drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease on plasma monoamine oxidase activity.

The plasma amine oxidase (benzylamine oxidase, BzAO) of patients with Parkinson's disease is sometimes decreased in activity, when compared to normal controls. This is the result of therapy with DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors. The Authors suggest that complications due to prolonged therapy with these drugs may be, at least in part, the result of an interference with BzAO capacity to catabolize circulating amines.