Trattamento della sindrome parkisoniana con Levo-Dopa Treatment of Parkinsonian syndrome with levo-DOPA. Case reports

To evaluate the effect of L-DOPA in parkinsonism 35 patients (17 men and 18 women, mean age 64 years) were selected for study. L-dopa therapy was given at a mean daily dose of 3 mg. 31 patients were followed more than 1 year during treatment. 4 patients were withdrawn from the study owing to intolerable side effects. All patients were receiving anticholinergic drugs before the study period. Such medications were discontinued in 16 patients and continued in the remaining 15. The results of this study confirm the effectiveness of L-Dopa in ameliorating the major manifestations of parkinsonism particularly rigidity and bradykinesia and to a lesser extent tremor which appeared somewhat more resistant to L-DOPA therapy. Neurological improvement was usually evident on the first few weeks of treatment and continued to progress during the ensuing months even though the daily dose of L-Dopa could be reduced. Prolonged treatment with L-DOPA increased the degree of improvement of major parkinsonian symptoms and of functional and social rehabilitation whereas did not seem to increase the number of improved cases.