Dilemma in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with L-dopa.
L-Dopa pioneered the symptomatic therapy of Parkinson's disease. While this treatment proved effective in the treatment of parkinsonian akinesia, rigidity and tremor, prolonged L-dopa treatment was often noted to result in dyskinesia, psychosis and 'on-off' phenomena. This increasing disability of L-Dopa-treated parkinsonian patients, however, is not correlated with the duration of L-dopa treatment. Mortality due to Parkinson's disease has decreased significantly after the introduction of L-dopa treatment. The development of D1-selective dopamine agonists and the introduction of neuroprotective rather than symptomatic therapy are required for treating Parkinson's disease.
Kuno
S
S
Department of Neurology, Utano National Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D015996:Survival Rate
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D007980:Levodopa