title: Long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease with L-Dopa and Dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor: therapeutic results and side effects.
abstract: The authors present a review of their clinical experience in the treatment of 127 Parkinsonian patients with L-Dopa alone and in association with a Dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor; the follow-up lasted more than 7 years. In all cases the dosages of L-Dopa, either alone or associated with the decarboxylase inhibitor, were fairly low; the strategy was to reach in each case the minimal effective dose instead of the maximal tolerable one. After 7 years of treatment about 60-65% of the patients had shown improvement, even though to a lesser degree than during the first and second year of therapy; the remaining 35-40% were unchanged or worse. The authors conclude that, despite the decreased efficacy of the therapy with time, the L-Dopa treatment remains of great significance in lengthening and in improving the quality of life of Parkinsonian patients.
mesh_terms: D065105:Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D001545:Benserazide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D065105:Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D006834:Hydrazines; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; D002230:Carbidopa