The multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-ranging, double-blind clinical trial,

called the Earlier versus Later Levodopa Therapy in Parkinson Disease (ELLDOPA) study

was run by the Parkinson Study Group and sponsored by the National Institute of  

Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The subjects (n=360) were enrolled between 

September 1998 and August 2001 at 33 sites in the United States and 5 sites in Canada.

Despite the known benefit of levodopa in reducing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease,

concern has been expressed that its use might hasten neurodegeneration. This study

assessed the effect of levodopa on the rate of progression of Parkinson’s disease.

 

Below find the following study documentation:

1. ELLDOPA Protocol Synopsis
2. ELLDOPA Schedule of Activites (SOA)
3. ELLDOPA Data Dictionaries 
4. Instructions for downloading data 

          5. Links to publications

Fahn S. Parkinson disease, the effect of levodopa, and the ELLDOPA trial. Arch Neurol
1999;56:529-535.

Fahn S. and the Parkinson Study Group. Levodopa and the progression of Parkinson’s
disease. N Engl J Med 2004;351:2498-2508.

Fahn S and the Parkinson Study Group. Does levodopa slow or hasten the rate of
progression of Parkinson’s disease? J Neurol 2005;252(4):37-42.

Only registered users who have been approved to download the ELLDOPA database are permitted to view/access the database files below (you must Login to access the data).