Platelet monoamine oxidase-B activity in Parkinson's disease

Platelet MAO-B levels have been investigated in seventeen consecutively diagnosed and previously untreated patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease using the non-hydroxylated catecholamine, beta-phenylethylamine, as substrate. Patients with Parkinson's disease had MAO-B activity levels that were considerably higher than sex and age matched normal controls or patients with Motor neurone disease or Myasthenia gravis.