In Parkinson's disease, one of the most troublesome dilemmas is the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesia. After a few years, chronic treatment with levodopa is associated with the development of dyskinesias. Strategies to delay or to reduce dyskinesias are based on the change of levodopa dosing or the early use of dopamine agonists. Dopamine agonists with different pharmacological profile a...

There were few cases of thrombocytopenia associated with levodopa. Herein, we report a patient with Parkinson's disease, who suffered thrombocytopenia related to long-term use of levodopa.

A portable test to rapidly determine levels of levodopa, the drug used treat Parkinson's disease, can improve clinical management disease. In this study, screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) were modified with polymers facilitate electrochemical detection levodopa. Cyclic voltammetry was deposit a thin layer polyaniline on electrode surface. Scanning electron microscopy revealed high surface covera...

purpose: to evaluate the effect of levodopa-carbidopa on improvement of visual acuity, color vision, and visual field in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (naion) with onset less than 6 wks. methods: in this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 13 patients were treated with levodopa-carbidopa and 12 patients were treated with placebo for 3 weeks. after 6 months,...

Three decades after its introduction, levodopa remains the gold standard for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Levodopa is the most potent symptomatic antiparkinsonian agent, and it is associated with an increase in quality of life and longevity for patients with PD. Dopamine agonists are increasingly being used, not only as an adjunct to levodopa, but as early therapy aimed at reducin...

5-Hydroxytryptamine 1a (5-HT(1a)) receptor agonists, such as sarizotan and tandospirone, are reported to reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated macaques and in Parkinson's disease without worsening motor disability. However, these compounds are not specific for 5-HT(1a) receptors and also possess dopamine antagonist actions. We now repo...

BACKGROUND Plantago ovata husk therapy could be used in patients with Parkinson disease to reduce the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, but it is important to know whether this compound modifies levodopa pharmacokinetics. The maintenance of constant plasma concentrations of levodopa abolishes the clinical fluctuations in parkinsonian patients. The aim of this randomised clinical trial was...

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of a single dose of levodopa on visual cortex, based on functional MRI (fMRI), and on visual function, based on psychophysical tests, in amblyopic and normal subjects. METHOD A prospective, randomized trial of a single dose of levodopa (2 mg/kg body weight) was undertaken in an institutional setting in nine normal and six amblyopic subjects, who were assessed a...

BACKGROUND Levodopa treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) increases in serum homocysteine levels due to its metabolism via catechol O-methyltransferase. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have the capacity to differentiate into mature endothelial cells and are markers for endothelial functions and cardiovascular risks. Along with traditional vascular risk factors, hyperhomocysteinemia is known...

Tiapride, a substituted benzamide derivative closely related to metoclopramide, reduced levodopa-induced peak dose involuntary movements in 16 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. However, an unacceptable increase in disability from Parkinsonism with aggravation of end-of-dose akinesia led to its cessation in 14 patients. Tiapride had no effect on levodopa-induced early morning of "off...