title: Side effects induced by the acute levodopa challenge in Parkinson's Disease and atypical parkinsonisms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute levodopa challenge may be performed to predict levodopa chronic responsiveness. The aim of the study was to investigate frequency of side effects during the acute levodopa challenge in PD and atypical parkinsonisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 34 de novo PD patients and 29 patients affected by atypical parkinsonisms (Multiple System Atrophy, MSA, n = 10; Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, PSP, n = 12 and Corticobasal Degeneration, CBD, n = 7) who underwent an acute levodopa challenge. Side effects occurring during test were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Side effects were more frequent among atypical parkinsonisms as unique group when compared to PD patients (64.3% versus 23.5%; p-value 0.002) with an adjusted OR of 4.36 (95%CI 1.40-13.5). Each atypical parkinsonisms showed almost double occurrence of side effects (MSA 90%, PSP 41.7% and CBD 57%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Side effects during acute levodopa challenge may be frequent in atypical parkinsonisms. This information could be useful in order to better prepare the patient for the test. Furthermore, it could represent a useful cue in differential diagnosis with PD.
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0393-4736
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vasta
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mostile
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dibilio
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sciacca
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Contrafatto
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Calogero Edoardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raciti
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zappia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa