Levodopa Does Not Improve Function in Individuals with Dystonic Cerebral Palsy

Although levodopa is the main treatment for dystonia, its role in cerebral palsy has not been assessed. We hypothesized that levodopa will improve upper limb function in individuals with cerebral palsy. Nine participants (age 16.8 +/- 5.6 years) with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and upper limb dystonia were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Function was assessed before and after 2 weeks of treatment of levodopa and placebo using box-and-blocks, 9-hole pegs, dynamometer recordings, and Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test. No benefits for upper limb functional performance were found following levodopa (6.65 +/- 1.66 mg/kg/d) treatment compared to placebo. No side effects were reported.