Levodopa, Parkinson's Disease, and Hypotension
Authors: FLETCHER H. MCDOWELL
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1970)

Editorials1 May 1970Levodopa, Parkinson's Disease, and HypotensionFLETCHER H. MCDOWELL, M.D., JOHN E. LEE, M.D.FLETCHER H. MCDOWELL, M.D., JOHN E. LEE, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-72-5-751 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptPatients with Parkinson's disease generally have lower blood pressure than other individuals of their age and sex. An orthostatic drop in blood pressure is frequently observed in these patients, but the drop is rarely enough to cause symptoms. Since the use of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (levodopa) in their treatment, orthostatic hypotension has become more common and more often symptomatic (1, 2). In our series of 100 patients treated with levodopa, 25 developed significant orthostatic hypotension (defined as a drop of systolic blood pressure of 30 mm Hg or more or a drop in systolic blood pressure to 80 mm Hg or less)....References1. MCDOWELLLEESWIFT FJT: Treatment of Parkinson's syndrome with L dihydroxyphenylalanine (levodopa). Ann Intern Med 72:29-36, 1970 LinkGoogle Scholar2. YAHRDUVOISINSCHEOR MRM: Treatment of Parkinsonism with levodopa. Arch Neurol (Chicago) 21:343-354, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. SHYDRAGER GG: A neurological syndrome associated with orthostatic hypotension. Arch Neurol (Chicago) 2:511-527, 1960 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. CHOKROVERTYBARRONKATZ SKF: The syndrome of primary orthostatic hypotension. Brain 92:743-768, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. SPIERSCALNE AD: Action of dopamine on the human iris. Brit Med J 4:333-335, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. CALNEKAROUMRUTHVEN DFC: The metabolism of orally administered L DOPA in Parkinsonism. Brit J Pharmacol 37:57-68, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. BARBEAUGILLO-JOFFREYBOUCHER ALR: Reninaldosterone system in Parkinson's disease. Science 165:291-292, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Department of Neurology Cornell University Medical College New York, N. Y. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byfor Orthostatic in Parkinson's and OtherOrthostatic Hypotension and Drugs: Drug-Induced Orthostatic HypotensionUpdate on Pharmacological Management of Hypotensive Syndromes in the ElderlyInsights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases with Molecular Simulations: Understanding the Roles of Artificial and Pathological Missense Mutations in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Related to PathologyExosomes in Parkinson's DiseaseNeuroprotective and Therapeutic Strategies against Parkinson's Disease: Recent PerspectivesCardiovascular Autonomic Regulation in Response to Orthostatic Stress with Parkinson's Disease - Case ReportImpaired cardiovascular autonomic control in newly and long-term-treated patients with Parkinson's disease: involvement of l-dopa therapyAutonomic nervous system dysfunction in Parkinson's diseaseSelegiline in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: its impact on orthostatic hypotensionNeuropathology and Cardiovascular RegulationDecreased myocardial 123 I-MIBG uptake in Parkinson's diseaseSympathetic vasoconstrictor reflexes in Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunctionAmine Accumulation: A Possible Precursor of Lewy Body Formation in Parkinson's DiseaseCerebral Autoregulation in Patients with Orthostatic HypotensionCardiovascular reflexes and autonomic dysfunction in parkinson's diseaseAutonomic involvement in extrapyramidal and cerebellar disordersAutonomic dysfunction in recent onset and advanced Parkinson's diseaseThe hypothalamus in Parkinson DiseaseAutonomic cardiovascular responses in parkinsonism: effect of levodopa with dopa-decarboxylase inhibitionDL-3,4-threo-DOPS in Parkinson's disease: Effects on orthostatic hypotension and dizzinessDose-Related Alterations in Metabolism of Levodopa: Possible Mechanism for Hypotensive Effect3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa), dopamine and norepinephrine storage in the rat heart after L-dopa—further evidence for norepinephrine releaseCirculatory Effects of Intravenous Tyramine and Noradrenalin in ParkinsonismPharmacodynamic application of l-dopa in cardiogenic shockORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION IN PARKINSON'S DISEASEThe distribution of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and of some of its metabolites in the blood of patients during oral therapy with l-DOPAModification of the Cardiovascular Effects of L -Dopa in Anesthetized Dogs by Inhibitors of Enzymes Involved in Catecholamine Metabolism 1 May 1970Volume 72, Issue 5Page: 751-752KeywordsBlood pressureHypotensionLevodopaParkinson diseaseSystolic pressure Issue Published: 1 May 1970 PDF downloadLoading ...