Title:Levodopa Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: History, Current Status and perspectives
VOLUME: 19 ISSUE: 8
Author(s):Helle Bogetofte, Arezo Alamyar, Morten Blaabjerg and Morten Meyer*
Affiliation:Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Neurobiology Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense
Keywords:Dopamine, dopaminergic, substantia nigra, L-dopa, dyskinesia, Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Abstract:Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a preferential
degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. This results in a profound
decrease of striatal dopamine (DA) levels, which in turn leads to the cardinal motor symptoms
of PD; muscle rigidity, hypo- and bradykinesia and resting tremor. Even 50 years after its initial use,
the DA precursor levodopa (L-dopa), is still the most effective medical therapy for the symptomatic
treatment of PD. Long-term L-dopa treatment is however, unfortunately associated with undesirable
side effects such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Furthermore, despite the disease alleviating
effects of L-dopa, it is still discussed whether L-dopa has a neurotoxic or neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic
neurons. Here we review the history of L-dopa, including its discovery, development and
current use in the treatment of PD. We furthermore review current evidence of the L-dopa-induced
side effects and perspectives of L-dopa treatment in PD compared to other established treatments such
as DA-agonists and the inhibitors of catechol-o-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase B.
