title: Effects of levodopa therapy on global left ventricular systolic function in patients with Parkinson disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since levodopa was identified as an efficient therapeutic option in Parkinson disease (PD), great success has been achieved in the course and treatment of the disease. However, L‑dopa-related side effects limit the therapeutic use in some patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of L‑dopa therapy on left ventricular global systolic function via speckle tracking method.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 55 patients with PD under L‑dopa/dopa decarboxylase inhibitor therapy were compared with 30 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Conventional transthoracic echocardiography was performed in the left lateral position by two experienced operators in accordance with generally accepted guidelines. Left ventricular systolic function was analyzed by speckle tracking method using global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate echocardiographic imaging for the evaluation of global longitudinal strain and global circumferential strain could be achieved in 55 of the patients. LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction), GLS and GCS values were found to be similar between the patients with PD under L‑dopa therapy and the control group (62 ± 3.5 % vs 61 ± 4 %, p < 0.05; -19.46 ± 2.3 vs -19.4 ± 3.2, p < 0.05; and -18.60 ± 3.5 vs -18.22 ± 3.2, p < 0.05 respectively.)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levodopa therapy has no unfavorable effect on left ventricular systolic function in patients with PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey. doktorzeki28@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zeki Yüksel
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Günaydın
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bektaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagöz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahriye Feriha
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Özer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa
keywords: Levodopa; Parkinson’s disease; Speckle tracking echocardiography