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Motor benefit from levodopa in spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
Brunstrom Janice E.,
Bastian Amy J.,
Wong Michael,
Mink Jonathan W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/1531-8249(200005)47:5<662::aid-ana18>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - levodopa , cerebral palsy , medicine , spastic diplegia , physical medicine and rehabilitation , spastic , periventricular leukomalacia , parkinson's disease , pregnancy , disease , biology , genetics , gestational age
We report on a 16‐year‐old girl with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy associated with premature birth and typical periventricular leukomalacia, who had a dramatic improvement in motor function after treatment with carbidopa/levodopa. Kinematic and electromyographic analyses of reaching movements demonstrate that levodopa decreased muscle co‐contraction, decreased unwanted movements, and improved her ability to maintain a steady arm posture. These findings suggest that levodopa be considered as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Ann Neurol 2000;47:662–665