[Dermal application of lisuride on parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in the common marmoset and on cases with Parkinson's disease].

Dermal administration is a nonoral drug delivery system that can keep the concentration of a drug in the body at a proper level for a long time. This is suitable especially in patients in the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease with a wearing-off phenomenon (short duration of effects on antiparkinsonian drugs), or in postoperative patients who cannot be treated with oral administration. We studied the effects of lisuride, a dopamine receptor agonist, in the dermal application on MPTP-treated common marmosets and on 5 patients with Parkinson's disease. Lisuride was applied to 4 x 5 cm of skin of the abdomen of monkeys. In patients with Parkinson's disease, lisuride was applied to the skin of the chest. The agent reversed akinesia of MPTP-treated animals within 30 min following the application and relieved the animal of parkinsonism for 5 days at a dose of 2 mg/kg. In patients, the dermal application of lisuride increased the duration of the ON period at doses of 1 to 2 mg/kg. These results suggest that the dermal application of lisuride is a useful treatment in parkinsonism.