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Biomedical subjects

R Holmsen

Publications and source records attributed to R Holmsen.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Treatment of Parkinson disease with levodopa depot preparations].

The majority of parkinsonian patients on long-term treatment with levodopa develop fluctuations in motor performance. Several of the features of long-term levodopa treatment seem to be associated with levodopa concentrations in the plasma. In order to overcome the dose-related clinical fluctuations, sustained or controlled-release oral tablets have been developed to achieve more stable plasma concentrations of the drug. This paper describes a Norwegian multi-centre study of Sinemet CR in 56 patients with mild to moderate parkinsonism. After 24 weeks on Sinemet CR the performance of 40 patients was evaluated as improved, i.e. better than when they were treated with standard levodopa. Patients with mild disease or with no motor fluctuations experienced similar clinical benefit from controlled-release levodopa as the more advanced parkinsonian patients. The authors also discuss the advantages and problems of controlled-release levodopa in parkinsonian patients in general.

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PubMed1978

Dopaminergic agonist Ro 8-4650 in Parkinson's disease. II. Patients not treated with dopa.

An isoquinolone derivative Ro 8-4650 (rac-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7-methoxy-2-methylisoquinoline hydrochloride) with dopaminergic properties was studied in a randomized crossover trial. The group studied comprised 37 patients with idiopathic parkinsonism, not previously treated with levodopa or dopamin agonists. The trial drug was significantly more effectve than placebo, but the clinical improvement, according to the Webster rating scale, was small. No significant difference was observed as regards involuntary movements, but the trial drug led to more frequent minor side effects. It can be concluded that the trial drug, despite its proven effect in Parkinson's disease, has only limited clinical value.

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PubMed1975

Treatment of parkinsonism with l-dopa and a decarboxylase inhibitor. An electrophysiological and clinical study.

Twelve parkinsonian patients with an unsatisfactory therapeutic result on L-Dopa alone due to nausea, vomiting and involuntary movements were treated WITH L-Dopa and decarboxylase inhibitor. The daily dose reached 800mg L-Dopa and 200 mg decarboxylase inhibitor. Single doses of each of the components were also given. Electrophysiological examination of hypokinesia, tremor and rigidity, and clinical observation revealed clear evidence of rapid improvement on small doses of L-Dopa combined with decarboxylase inhibitor. Most of the improvement occurred during the 1st week before the maximal dose was reached. A single oral dose of decarboxylase inhibitor resulted in an improvement, suggesting the presence in the organism of a small AMOUNT OF L-Dopa. This work also shows the absence of liver toxicity of the drug used. Elimination of the extracerebral side effects nausea and vomiting in our opinion is a principle advantage of the compound compared to L-Dopa alone, wheras abnormal involuntary movements, which were found in all patients, remain the limiting adverse side effect.

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