Study of deterioration in long-term treatment of parkinsonism with L-dopa plus decarboxylase inhibitor.
35 parkinsonian patients have been treated over 3 years with L-Dopa combined with benserazide. After an impressive improvement during the first months of treatment a slow but significant deterioration of the patient's condition was observed. At the end of the observation period however their condition was still significantly better than before starting the treatment. A reduced mean L-Dopa dosage was ruled out as the cause of this deterioration. Withdrawal of the L-Dopa therapy for a few days in 13 patients provided strong evidence that it is due to the progression of the disease and to a partial loss of L-Dopa efficacy.
D001545:Benserazide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; 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
D006834:Hydrazines; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide