Subcutaneous Levodopa in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many Parkinson's disease patients receiving oral levodopa/carbidopa experience a troublesome wearing off effect. Higher doses to mitigate OFF-time are limited by adverse effects occurring at peak dopamine levels, particularly dyskinesia. A novel strategy to reduce OFF-time without increasing peak dopamine levels is the continuous subcutaneous infusion of levodopa/carbidopa, or their prodrug equivalents foslevodopa/foscarbidopa.

Objectives

Assess whether subcutaneous infusion therapies safely reduce OFF-time and improve quality of life scores compared to oral levodopa/carbidopa.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and ICTRP up to 28th October 2024 for clinical trials comparing subcutaneous infusions of levodopa or foslevodopa to oral levodopa in Par

SUBMITTER: Burton M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12853972 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature