Levodopa therapy and the risk of malignant melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of levodopa therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease and malignant melanoma.


METHODS
A MEDLINE search (January 1966-September 1999) of English-language articles was conducted. Key search terms included levodopa, melanoma, and Parkinson's disease; 34 case reports were identified.


RESULTS
Carbidopa/levodopa continues to be a mainstay in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Since the late 1970s, a warning has appeared in the prescribing literature for levodopa regarding the risk of activating malignant melanoma. An evaluation was conducted of the case reports in which a causal relationship between levodopa and melanoma was suggested.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an unlikely association between levodopa and induction or exacerbation of malignant melanoma.
Siple
J F
JF
Pharmacy Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR 97207, USA. siple.jolene@portland.va.gov
Schneider
D C
DC
Wanlass
W A
WA
Rosenblatt
B K
BK
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa