Dopaminergic therapy with carbidopa L-dopa for left neglect after stroke: A case series

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of carbidopa L-dopa (Sinemet) in reduci ng left spatial neglect after stroke. Design: Case series. Setting: Inpatient neurorehabilitation unit in a regional rehabilitation ce nter. Participants: A convenience sample of 4 women with right brain strokes and left neglect. Intervention: A trial of carbidopa L-dopa to treat left neglect, if indicat ed by selected subtests of the Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT). Main Outcome Measures: Baseline and posttreatment evaluation with the modif ied BIT and the FIM(TM) instrument. Results: Three of 4 subjects had significant improvements in their modified BIT scores (8%, 12%, 27%, respectively) and their functional status on the FIM. Conclusion: With further study, carbidopa L-dopa may be shown to reduce uni lateral spatial neglect and thereby improve rehabilitation outcomes.