Effect of L-dopa on dementia-related rigidity.
L-dopa 100 mg plus benserazide 25 mg versus placebo were given 3 times daily to 14 consecutive patients with dementia and rigidity. The treatment was crossed over to the alternative therapy after a 7-day period. Despite a mean 60% raise in CSF-HVA during L-dopa administration, no patient responded to the treatment. These data suggest that dementia-associated rigidity differs, at least, pharmacologically from parkinsonian rigidity.
Neurology Service, Erasmus Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
M
M
Duret
S
S
Goldman
D
D
Messina
J
J
Hildebrand
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009127:Muscle Rigidity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D007980:Levodopa