Response to L-dopa and evolution of motor fluctuations in the early phase of treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Twenty patients with Parkinson's disease were studied during the early phase of L-dopa treatment to clarify the development and progression of Parkinsonian motor fluctuations. Two patients had developed symptomatic motor fluctuations of moderate severity and another 3 had mild fluctuations. Both the initial response to L-dopa and the amplitude of response to a L-dopa test dose after a mean follow up period of 30 months were significantly greater for the fluctuating patients compared with those without fluctuation (p < 0.05). Although severe motor fluctuations do not usually develop until a number of years of L-dopa treatment have elapsed, this study shows that motor fluctuations can be detected quite early in the disease course and tend to appear in those patients who respond best to L-dopa.
Shif
M
M
Neurosciences Department, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria.
Kempster
P A
PA
D000368:Aged; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D007980:Levodopa