Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1972 Aug;35(4):487–495. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.4.487

Response of patients with postencephalitic Parkinsonism to levodopa 1

Roger C Duvoisin 1,2, Joao Lobo-Antunes 1,2, Melvin D Yahr 1,2
PMCID: PMC494109  PMID: 5049808

Abstract

Thirty patients with postencephalitic Parkinsonism were treated with levodopa. In seven patients, treatment was withdrawn because of adverse reactions or insufficient benefit. Improvements observed in 26 patients who remained on treatment for a sufficient period to permit adequate assessment were comparable with those previously reported in Parkinson's disease. Some sequelae of encephalitis lethargica—notably, oculogyria and drooling—were appreciably improved in most patients affected, whereas choreoathetoid dyskinesias were aggravated by levodopa. Adventitious choreiform involuntary movements and behaviour disorders were the major side-effects. Patients with postencephalitic Parkinsonism may respond as well as patients with Parkinson's disease to levodopa but they develop both favourable responses and side-effects at a lower dosage and require careful dosage adjustments and close surveillance.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

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

  1. Calne D. B., Stern G. M., Laurence D. R., Sharkey J., Armitage P. L-dopa in postencephalitic parkinsonism. Lancet. 1969 Apr 12;1(7598):744–746. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91751-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cote L., Yahr M. D., Duvoisin R. C., Wolf A., Marksbery W. Analysis of deaths in Parkinson patients on long-term levodopa therapy. Trans Am Neurol Assoc. 1970;95:73–77. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DUVOISIN R. C., YAHR M. D. ENCEPHALITIS AND PARKINSONISM. Arch Neurol. 1965 Mar;12:227–239. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1965.00460270003001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. GREENFIELD J. G., BOSANQUET F. D. The brain-stem lesions in Parkinsonism. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1953 Nov;16(4):213–226. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.16.4.213. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hoehn M. M., Yahr M. D. Parkinsonism: onset, progression and mortality. Neurology. 1967 May;17(5):427–442. doi: 10.1212/wnl.17.5.427. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hunter K. R., Stern G. M., Sharkey J. Levodopa in postencephalitic parkinsonism. Lancet. 1970 Dec 26;2(7687):1366–1367. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)92398-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Krasner N., Cornelius J. M. L-dopa for postencephalitic Parkinsonism. Br Med J. 1970 Nov 21;4(5733):496–496. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5733.496. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Sacks O. W., Kohl M. Incontinent nostalgia induced by L-dopa. Lancet. 1970 Jun 27;1(7661):1394–1394. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)91297-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Sacks O. W., Kohl M. L-dopa and oculogyric crises. Lancet. 1970 Jul 25;2(7665):215–216. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)92572-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Sacks O. W., Kohl M., Schwartz W., Messeloff C. Side-effects of L-dopa in postencephalic parkinsonism. Lancet. 1970 May 9;1(7654):1006–1006. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)91137-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Yahr M. D., Duvoisin R. C., Schear M. J., Barrett R. E., Hoehn M. M. Treatment of parkinsonism with levodopa. Arch Neurol. 1969 Oct;21(4):343–354. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1969.00480160015001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. den HARTOG JAGER W. A., BETHLEM J. The distribution of Lewy bodies in the central and autonomic nervous systems in idiopathic paralysis agitans. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960 Nov;23:283–290. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.23.4.283. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES