title: Idiopathic orthostatic hypotension treated with levodopa and MAO inhibitor: a preliminary report.
abstract: The clinical and pathophysiological features of a case of idiopathic orthostatic hypotension (Shy-Drager syndrome) are presented. Recent reports on the pathological findings in this condition indicate that there may be a defect in catecholamine synthesis in the pigmented brain stem nuclei and sympathetic ganglia similar to that in idiopathic parkinsonism. On this basis a new form of therapy using levodopa combined with MAO inhibition is derived. The results of a trial of this therapy, which produced improvements in both the hypotension and in the extrapyramidal features of the disease, are reported.
mesh_terms: D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000188:drug therapy; D013546:Sweating; D013577:Syndrome; D014191:Tranylcypromine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000188:drug therapy; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D014191:Tranylcypromine; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine