Harbinger of storm: influence of Oliver Sacks on levodopa therapy in early 1970s

Abstract

Most known by his literary ability, the words of the neurologist Oliver Sacks (1933-2015) also had an impact on scientific community about the role of levodopa on parkinsonisms. Different from the most authors and based on his experience described on the book “Awakenings”, he had a pessimistic opinion about levodopa, which was related on many articles written by himself and colleagues in early 1970s. We reviewed the scientific contribution of Oliver Sacks associated to levodopa therapy on parkinsonisms, and how he advised caution with its complications before the majority of physicians.

Análise de preditores clínicos e genéticos para o surgimento de discinesias induzidas por L-DOPA na doença de Parkinson

“…Além disso, deve se considerar o efeito dos endocanabinoides sobre mecanismos de neuroinflamação, uma outra potencial fonte de gênese das DIL(DOS-SANTOS-PEREIRA et al, 2016). DOPA(SANTOS-LOBATO;TUMAS, 2016), e sua ocorrência deixou de ser um curioso fenômeno para ser abordado como uma grave complicação do tratamento. Com a redução da concentração encefálica de DA, as discinesias reduzem e somem, durando cerca de 30 a 60 minutos.…”