Levodopa does not improve function in individuals with dystonic cerebral palsy.
Although levodopa is the main treatment for dystonia, its role in cerebral palsy has not been assessed. We hypothesized that levodopa will improve upper limb function in individuals with cerebral palsy. Nine participants (age 16.8 ± 5.6 years) with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and upper limb dystonia were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Function was assessed before and after 2 weeks of treatment of levodopa and placebo using box-and-blocks, 9-hole pegs, dynamometer recordings, and Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test. No benefits for upper limb functional performance were found following levodopa (6.65 ± 1.66 mg/kg/d) treatment compared to placebo. No side effects were reported.
1Pediatric Movement Disorders, Neuropediatric Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Inna
I
Pozin
Tali
T
Bdolah-Abram
Hilla
H
Ben-Pazi
D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa
Quality Of Upper Extremity Skills Test; dopamine; dystonia