title: Treatment of disturbances of consciousness caused by measles encephalitis with levodopa.
abstract: Results are reported of a double-blind trial with L-dopa in 39 patients with measles encephalitis. In this treatment series, L-dopa improved the state of awareness and the diffuse disturbances in the EEG. There was a significant difference too, regarding the outcome between patients treated with L-dopa and placebo. The death rate in the L-dopa-treated group was lower and there were fewer mental sequelae. It is suggested, that L-dopa should be used in patients with measles encephalitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003128:Coma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D007980:Levodopa