11 patients undergoing L-dopa therapy for Parkinson's disease were evaluated using 3 psychomotor measures designed to assess functioning of the upper extremity. The patients were tested prior to L-dopa therapy, when they had reached optimum dosages of L-dopa, and finally, during a period when they had been placed on a placebo. Significant differences were found on two of the three measures between pretreatment and L-dopa periods, and between pretreatment and placebo periods. No significant differences were found between L-dopa and placebo periods, however.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BarbeauA.Biochimie et traitement de la maladie de Parkinson. Union Med. Canada, 1961, 90, 1000–1001.
2.
BirkmayerW.HornykiewiczO.Der L-3, 4-Dioxyphenylalanin (= Dopa)-Effekt bei der Parkinson-Akinese. Wien Klin. Wschr., 1961, 73, 787–788.
3.
CanterG. J.De La TorreR.MierM.A method for evaluating disability in patients with Parkinson's disease. J. nerv. ment. Dis., 1961, 133, 143–147.
4.
CotziasG. C.PapavasiliouP. S.GelleneR.Modification of parkinsonism: Chronic treatment with L-dopa. New Eng. J. Med., 1969, 280, 337–345.
5.
CotziasG. C.Van WoertM. H.SchifferL. M.Aromatic amino acids and modification of Parkinsonism. New Eng. J. Med., 1967, 276, 374–379.
6.
MuenterM. D.Double-blind placebo controlled study of levodopa therapy in Parkinson's disease. Neurol. (Minneap.), 1970, 20, 6–13.
7.
YahrM. D.DuvoisinR. C.HoehnM. M.L-3-4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa): Its clinical effects in parkinsonism. Paper read at the meeting of the American Neurological Association, Washington, D.C., June 17, 1968.
