Effect of Levodopa Treatment on Respiratory
Muscle Power in a Patient with Newly Diagnosed Parkinson's Disease
OD01-OD02
Correspondence
Askin Gülsen,
Department of Pneumology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160 (Haus 40),
Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
E-mail: askingulsen@hotmail.com
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative, progressive motor disease. The condition is often accompanied by tremor, stiffness, bradykinesia, postural imbalance, and subsequent respiratory problems. In many patients with PD, the aspiration and respiratory problems that develop after difficulty in swallowing and loss of mouth and throat muscle control are the main causes of morbidity and mortality. A 62-year-old non-smoker male was admitted because of progressive dyspnea, unconsciousness, slowing of movement, and respiratory failure. The patient was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after neurological consultation. After two weeks of levodopa treatment, the patient showed a significant improvement in pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength parameters. This case demonstrates the effect of levodopa treatment on respiratory muscle strength and emphasises the importance of respiratory muscle strength parameters in special pulmonary function test.