Long-Term Therapeutic Efficacy of Levodopa in Parkinson's Disease

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 11(2); 1993 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1993;11(2): 181-186.

파킨슨병에 있어서 Levodopa 장기치료효과

최일생, 최영철,허지회,이성수,김진호,이명식

연세대학교 신경과.

Long-Term Therapeutic Efficacy of Levodopa in Parkinson's Disease

Il-Saing Choi, M.D., Young-Chul Choi, M.D., Ji-Hoe Heo, M.D., Sung-Soo Lee, M.D., Jin-Ho Kim, M.D., Myung-Sik Lee, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine Yonsei University

Abstract

We evaluated the therapeutic effects and complications of 118 patients with idiopathic parkisonism who were receiving levodopa therapy for more than 1 year. Response to therapy and complications of drug were correlated with duration of the disease and with duration of the treatment. Patients with motor fluctuation were likely to have been treated for 3 years or longer. Patients treated with levodopa for 5 years or longer were significantly more impaired with parkinsonism than patients treated for 1 to 3 years. Our findings suggest that the deterioration of responsiveness after several years of levododpa therapy may be due to the therapy itself, and utilization of levodopa therapy should be delayed until a patient becomes significantly impaired in occupational or social situations.