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Transplantation of Fetal Dopamine Neurons in Parkinson's Disease:One-year Clin Obser in 2 Pts with Putaminal Implants Ann Neurol 31:155-165, Lindvall,O.,et al, 1992 See this aricle in Pubmed Article Abstract Ventral mesencephalic tissue from aborted human fetuses age 6-7 weeks' postconception)was implanted unilaterally into the putamen using stereotaxic surgery in 2 immunosuppressed patients(Patients 3 and 4 in our series)with advanced idiopathic Parkinson's disease.Tissue from 4 fetuses was grafted to each patient.Compared with our previous 2 patients,the following changes in thegrafting procedure were introduced:the implantation instrument was thinner,more tissue was placed in the operated structure,and the time between abortion and grafting was shorter.There were no postoperative complications.Both patients showed a gradual and significant amelioration of parkinsonian symptoms(most marked in Patient 3)starting at 6 and 12 weeks after grafting,respectively,reaching maximum stablity at approximately 4 to 5 months;patients remained relatively stable thereafter during the 1-year follow-up period.Clinical improvement was observed as a reduction of the time spent in the"off"phase and the number of daily"off"periods;a lessening of bradykinesia and rigidity during the"off"phase,mainly but not solely on the side contralateral to the graft:and a prolongation and change in the pattern of the effectof a single dose of L-dopa.Neurophysiological measurements revealed a more rapid performance of simple and complex arm and hand movements bilaterally,but primarily contralateral to the graft.The results indicate that patients with Parkinson's disease can show significant and sustained improvement of motor function after intrastriatal implanation of fetal dopamine-rich mesencephalic tissue.The accompanying paper by Sawle and colleagues describes the results of repeated positron emission tomography scans in these patients.

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(click to filter results - removes previous filter) brain transplantation fetal tissue Parkinson disease Parkinson disease,surgical treatment of Parkinson disease,treatment of substantia nigra tissue treatment of neurologic disorder

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