Malignant melanoma in early Parkinson's disease: the DATATOP trial

Mov Disord. 2007 Apr 15;22(5):720-2. doi: 10.1002/mds.21273.

Abstract

The available epidemiological data on the incidence of malignant melanoma in Parkinson's disease are contradictory. The role of levodopa therapy in this context has been debated. We identified all known cases of malignant melanoma (N = 5) in the DATATOP clinical trial cohort and compared that to published expected values (N = 1.5) for a standard healthy population. The standardized event ratio was 3.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-7.8), indicating that incidence of malignant melanoma was higher than expected. We found no association between levodopa therapy and the incidence of melanoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antiparkinson Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Levodopa / adverse effects
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Melanoma / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Reference Values
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Levodopa