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.
Pharmacy Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR 97207, USA. siple.jolene@portland.va.gov
J F
JF
Siple
D C
DC
Schneider
W A
WA
Wanlass
B K
BK
Rosenblatt
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