Objectives

Since Levodopa was identified as an efficient therapeutic option in Parkinson Disease (PD), great success has been achieved in the course and treatment of the disease.

However, L-dopa-related side effects limit the therapeutic use in some patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of L-dopa therapy on left ventricular global systolic function via speckle tracking method.

Methods

In this study, 55 patients with PD under L-dopa / dopa decarboxylase inhibitor therapy were compared with 30 age and sex matched control subjects. Conventional transthoracic echocardiography was performed in the left lateral position by two experienced operators in accordance with generally accepted guidelines. Left ventricular systolic function was analyzed by speckle tracking method using global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) imaging.