About a recent question on the subject by a list member :
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Levodopa Slows The Progression Of
Parkinson's
Disease
LONDON, ENGLAND -- May 28, 1999 --
The toxicity of levodopa
(L-dopa) has long been debated.
This is an important issue
because L-dopa is the mainstay of
therapy for Parkinson's disease
and treatment can sometimes be
delayed because of fear of the
drug's toxicity.
In this week's issue of The Lancet,
Katrina Gwinn-Hardy and
colleagues report the findings of a
study into the effects of L-dopa
on Parkinson's disease in a family
with a history of the disease.
Family members living after 1969
received L-dopa and those who
died before 1969 did not. The
researchers found that those treated
with L-dopa had longer survival and
slower progression of the
disease compared with those who
were untreated.
"Although clinical data cannot
directly address the issue of
neurotoxicity, they suggest that
therapy should be started without
delay or fears concerning
toxicity", researchers write.
Related Links: The Lancet
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Cheers ,
Joao Paulo - Salvador,BA,Brazil
