A pilot study of the effect of L-threodops on rehabilitation outcome of stroke patients.
We investigated whether L-threodops (L-DOPS), a norepinephrine precursor, improves rehabilitation outcome in patients with initial hemiparetic supratentorial ischemic stroke (2 months post stroke). Five patients who agreed to be treated with L-DOPS received 45-minute physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) for 2 months, 3 days a week, with an oral dose of 200 mg L-DOPS 2 hours before each session, followed by PT and OT without L-DOPS for 2 months (DOPS group). Eight patients who disagreed received PT and OT for 4 months (control). Each group demonstrated comparable age, sex, complications, Mini-Mental State Examination, and the baseline Functional Independence Measure (FIM, DOPS/control = 36/42), Fugl-Meyer (F-M) motor scale (30/27), and ambulation endurance (10/9 meters). DOPS group had significantly greater gain than control (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test) in FIM score at 4 (51/45) and 6 months (57/49), ambulation at 4 (66/16) and 6 months (82/24), and F-M score at 4 months (40/29). There were no side effects that required discontinuation of the drug. These results suggest that L-DOPS treatment paired with PT and OT may be effective in improving functional outcome in stroke.
Department of Neurology, Toneyama National Hospital, Osaka, Japan. webeo@ga2.so-net.ne.jp
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Miyai
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Saito
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Nozaki
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Kang
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000284:Administration, Oral; D015103:Droxidopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
D015103:Droxidopa