[Effects of L-threo-Dops on orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease]

Effects of L-threo-Dops (Dops) administration on orthostatic hypotention were evaluated with changes in blood pressure by postural change (lying to standing position) and subjective symptoms in 15 patients of Parkinson's disease having symptoms of orthostatic hypotention. Orthostatic syncope had improved significantly (p < 0.01) after 2 and 4 weeks of administration with maintenance dose of 460 mg/day of Dops in average. In the standing-up (Schellong) test, decrease in blood pressure levels by a postural change, both with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, was significantly smaller at 3, 5 and 10 minutes after standing after 4 weeks of drug administration. Decrease in the blood pressure level immediately after standing-up improved by 10.2 +/- 4.0 for systolic and 6.5 +/- 1.8 for diastolic (mmHg, mean +/- SE) (p < 0.01). The group that showed improvement in orthostatic syncope had a significant improvement in decline in blood pressure by standing after administration of Dops, while the group without any change in severity of syncope did not show significant improvement in orthostatic hypotention.