[Treatment and prognosis of juvenile parkinsonism--L-dopa responsiveness].

The treatment and prognosis of juvenile parkinsonism(JP) with onset under the age of 40 years is described. The patients with JP responded better to L-dopa and more gradual progression of symptoms, but, developed dopa-induced dyskinesias and motor fluctuations earlier and more frequently than Parkinson's disease patients. In order to control the dyskinesias and motor fluctuations, a small dose of L-dopa has to be administered several times a day with the combination of dopamine-receptor agonists. As a result of the increased life expectancy with L-dopa treatment the mean duration of the disease has increased in Parkinson's disease and JP, however, mean age at death in JP was still under 60.