title: Clinical Response of Levodopa Carbidopa Combination in Patients with Idiopathic Parkinsonism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parkinson's disease is the most common form of a group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders. The use of levodopa as dopamine - replacement therapy is highly effective in ameliorating the symptoms of the disease and remains the standard drug with which other therapies are compared.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the change in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating scale (UPDRS) scores in patients receiving levodopa and carbidopa treatment (levodopa- carbidopa combination).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study was conducted in Department of Neurology, Government Medical College, Trivandrum, India on 75 patients. All patients diagnosed with Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) satisfying inclusion criteria were enrolled into the study. Informed written consent was taken from all patients. Baseline UPDRS scores were recorded followed by reassessment at the end of six month. Data was analysed using paired t-test with help of SPSS-16 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline UPDRS was collected and after 6 months of treatment, it was reassessed. Baseline total score was 49.8; the follow-up score was 39.5. A decrease in score was seen in various components of UPDRS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upon statistical analysis this difference was found to be significant, which implies that, there is improvement in patient's condition. Improvement was noted in Mentation, behaviour, mood, activities of daily living and motor functions. Hence there is positive treatment response for levodopa carbidopa therapy in patients with idiopathic PD.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College , Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India .
authors.forename: Abhijith Lalesh
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Merajoth
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head of Department, Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College , Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India .
authors.forename: Pradeep Sadasivan
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head of Department, Department of Neurology, Government Medical College , Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India .
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iype
keywords: Activities of daily living; Neurodegeneration; UPDRS