Highlight
– The ESTREL randomized clinical trial examined levodopa’s efficacy as an adjunct to standardized rehabilitation in acute stroke patients with hemiparesis.
– Levodopa, enhancing dopaminergic signaling, did not significantly improve motor function compared to placebo at 3 months, measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment.
– Safety profiles were comparable between levodopa and placebo groups, with infections being the most common serious adverse events.
– These findings question the routine use of levodopa in stroke rehabilitation protocols aimed at boosting motor recovery.
Study Background and Disease Burden
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