Randomized Study of Fetal Neurotransplantation for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study. Patients are stratified by age (over and under 60). Patients are randomized to receive either sham surgery or tissue implantation.

Embryonic tissue is prepared. While patients are awake, but sedated, bilateral incisions are made in the skin and burr holes drilled in the skull. A cannula is inserted into the brain to the posterior putamen. Implant patients receive embryonic neural tissue or sham patients have no needles penetrate the brain. After 1 year, patients who receive the sham operation in the first operation may receive embryonic neural tissue in a second operation.

Patients are followed every 4 months during the first year and every 6 months thereafter.