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. 1972 Aug 26;3(5825):512–514. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5825.512

Clinical Problems: Levodopa Therapy of Patients with Parkinsonism and Heart Disease

Ramon B Jenkins, Sander H Mendelson, Sofjan Lamid, Harold L Klawans
PMCID: PMC1785802  PMID: 4538397

Abstract

Forty patients with Parkinsonism and heart disease were studied before and during the administration of levodopa. Patients with increasing angina, myocardial infarction within the previous year, pre-existing severe postural hypotension, or transient cerebral ischaemia were excluded. Thirty-eight patients showed no adverse effects; angina improved in one patient but later worsened; one patient died of myocardial infarction after a severe gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Therapy with levodopa appears to pose little increased hazard to patients with most forms of heart disease. Inpatient monitoring is recommended at the beginning of therapy, and antiarrhythmic agents should be used when required.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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