Problems arising during chronic treatment with L-dopa for Parkinson's disease: changes in response to treatment.
Some aspects of the problems of long-term L-dopa treatment syndrome are reviewed, with special attention to the changes in response to treatment with dopaminergic agents, specifically end-of-dose deterioration, the on-off phenomenon and hyperkinesia. The various hypotheses for interpreting these are presented, with particular stress on changes in the function of DA-ergic receptors. It is concluded that the on-off phenomenon is probably related to changes in plasma L-dopa levels and to decreased stores of intraneural dopamine.
D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000503:physiopathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine