L Dopa induced improvement of coma due to brain injury

Fifteen patients in a comatose state of different degrees for at least 6 days, or presenting an apallic syndrome due to primary cerebral lesion, have been treated with L Dopa. The patients who began their treatment while in coma III, II and I underwent a gradual and progressive improvement of the level of consciousness as well as of the electroencephalographic activity. No clearcut results were obtained in the patients with an apallic syndrome. A direct relationship between L Dopa treatment and improvement of the state of consciousness is suggested by the following facts: the level of coma was stabilized for several days prior to the L Dopa treatment; a parallelism was observed between consciousness improvement and dose of the drug employed; the temporary suppression of L Dopa treatment was associated with deterioration of clinical conditions. The hypothesis of a role of a disturbance of the cerebral amine metabolism in the disorders of the state of consciousness following cerebral injury, and of a corrective effect of L Dopa on such a disturbance is discussed.