Caterina Breitenstein1, Catharina Korsukewitz1, Annette Baumgärtner2, Agnes Flöel3, Pienie Zwitserlood4, Christian Dobel5, Stefan Knecht6. 1. Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany. 2. Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany. 3. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Charite, Berlin, Germany. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany. 5. Department of Biomagnetism, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany. 6. St. Mauritius Hospital and University of Duesseldorf, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE:L-dopa has been shown to improve outcome of moderate-intensity language training after stroke in acute aphasia. Given the critical role of training intensity we probed the effect of l-dopa in combination with high-intensity language training in chronic post-stroke aphasia. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, aphasia patients (>1 year post stroke) were administered 100/25 mg of l-dopa/carbidopa or placebo daily prior to four hours of language training for two weeks. Conditions were crossed-over after a wash-out period of 4 weeks. RESULTS: An a-priori planned interim analysis (n = 10) showed that naming performance and verbal communication improved significantly and persistently for at least 6 months in every patient, but l-dopa had no incremental effect to intensive training. CONCLUSION:High-intensity language training in chronic aphasia may take learning to a ceiling that precludes additive benefits from l-dopa. Effects of l-dopa on post-stroke recovery during less intense treatment in chronic aphasia remain to be evaluated.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE:L-dopa has been shown to improve outcome of moderate-intensity language training after stroke in acute aphasia. Given the critical role of training intensity we probed the effect of l-dopa in combination with high-intensity language training in chronic post-stroke aphasia. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, aphasiapatients (>1 year post stroke) were administered 100/25 mg of l-dopa/carbidopa or placebo daily prior to four hours of language training for two weeks. Conditions were crossed-over after a wash-out period of 4 weeks. RESULTS: An a-priori planned interim analysis (n = 10) showed that naming performance and verbal communication improved significantly and persistently for at least 6 months in every patient, but l-dopa had no incremental effect to intensive training. CONCLUSION: High-intensity language training in chronic aphasia may take learning to a ceiling that precludes additive benefits from l-dopa. Effects of l-dopa on post-stroke recovery during less intense treatment in chronic aphasia remain to be evaluated.
Authors: Lisa Bartha-Doering; Astrid Novak; Kathrin Kollndorfer; Gregor Kasprian; Anna-Lisa Schuler; Madison M Berl; Florian Ph S Fischmeister; William D Gaillard; Johanna Alexopoulos; Daniela Prayer; Rainer Seidl Journal: Brain Lang Date: 2018-06-15 Impact factor: 2.381
Authors: Pablo Ripollés; Laura Ferreri; Marta Valle; Jordi Riba; Antoni Rodriguez-Fornells; Ernest Mas-Herrero; Helena Alicart; Alba Gómez-Andrés; Josep Marco-Pallares; Rosa Maria Antonijoan; Toemme Noesselt Journal: Elife Date: 2018-08-30 Impact factor: 8.140