Şevket AKPINAR

Şevket Akpınar (1929-2010) was a Turkish neurologist, academic and professor. He is known for his important discoveries and medical contributions to Restless Leg Syndrome. Prof. Dr. Akpınar worked for many years at GATA, one of Turkey's leading military medical institutions, and became a world-renowned neurologist.

Who is Şevket AKPINAR?

Born in 1929 in Istanbul, Şevket Akpınar graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in 1953. His education life, which he started as a military medical student, carried him to an important place in Turkish medicine. In 1958, he started working as a neurology assistant at Gülhane Military Medical Academy and completed his specialty training in nervous and mental diseases in 1961. After gaining in-depth knowledge in various fields of medicine, he worked at the University of Missouri in the USA between 1969 and 1971, where he gained important experience in international medical practice.

In 1971, Prof. Dr. Şevket Akpınar returned to Turkey and was assigned to GATA Ankara Neurology Clinic, where he served for many years. In 1980, he was awarded the title of professor and served as a faculty member at GATA for many years. Akpınar's greatest contribution to the world of medicine was his research on Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This syndrome is a condition that causes restlessness and movement of the legs, especially during sleep at night, and can have a significant quality of life impact on patients.

Impact and Legacy

Prof. Dr. Şevket Akpınar has made a revolutionary discovery in the treatment of restless leg syndrome. In 1982, with a research he conducted, he described the first drug therapy used in the treatment of the disease and brought it to the medical literature. Akpınar proved for the first time that the combination of L-dopa and benserazide was effective in restless legs syndrome, and this treatment method is still recognized as the most widely used treatment method in the world. This important discovery has had a major impact on the field of neurology and has expanded the treatment options for patients with RLS.

Restless legs syndrome is a disease that affects the nervous system and causes a constant feeling of restlessness in the legs. This can disrupt people's sleep patterns and cause serious difficulties in daily life. Prof. Akpınar's work on this disease has led to a major step forward in the field of treatment and has made his name respected worldwide. Prof. Dr. Akpınar has made a significant impact not only in Turkey but also worldwide thanks to his discoveries in this field.

Şevket Akpınar is recognized as a respected figure in the medical world for his scientific studies in the field of medicine and his contributions to human health. In particular, his innovative approach to the treatment of restless leg syndrome is one of his major achievements that reinforces his scientific legacy. Prof. Dr. Şevket Akpınar, who gained great respect as a teacher and researcher in the medical world for many years, made significant contributions to the Turkish neurology community. His legacy in this field is still appreciated by many medical students and specialists today.