BACKGROUND: A significant percentage of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) continue to experience motor fluctuations and dyskinesias despite the association of dopamine agonists and levodopa with COMT or MAO-B inhibitors. The use of apomorphine infusion is limited by compliance while deep brain stimulation is feasible only for a small number of patients mostly because of age constraints. OBJECTIVE: To assess prospectively the effectiveness of duodenal levodopa infusion on quality of life as well as motor features in patients with advanced PD. In all but 1 case levodopa infusion was stopped at nighttime. METHODS: We report the outcome of 22 PD patients, followed for up to 2 years, who were on continuous duodenal levodopa/carbidopa infusion through percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. RESULTS: We found a significant reduction in 'off' period duration as well as dyskinesia severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part IV, items 33 and 39). There was significant improvement in the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire as well as in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part II up to the 2-year follow-up. Five patients withdrew: 2 for poor compliance and 3 for adverse events (1 was related to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate significant clinical improvements in quality of life and activities of daily living consistent with the occurrence of a satisfactory therapeutic response and a reduction in dyskinesia severity. 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
BACKGROUND: A significant percentage of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) continue to experience motor fluctuations and dyskinesias despite the association of dopamine agonists and levodopa with COMT or MAO-B inhibitors. The use of apomorphine infusion is limited by compliance while deep brain stimulation is feasible only for a small number of patients mostly because of age constraints. OBJECTIVE: To assess prospectively the effectiveness of duodenal levodopa infusion on quality of life as well as motor features in patients with advanced PD. In all but 1 case levodopa infusion was stopped at nighttime. METHODS: We report the outcome of 22 PDpatients, followed for up to 2 years, who were on continuous duodenal levodopa/carbidopa infusion through percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. RESULTS: We found a significant reduction in 'off' period duration as well as dyskinesia severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part IV, items 33 and 39). There was significant improvement in the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire as well as in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part II up to the 2-year follow-up. Five patients withdrew: 2 for poor compliance and 3 for adverse events (1 was related to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate significant clinical improvements in quality of life and activities of daily living consistent with the occurrence of a satisfactory therapeutic response and a reduction in dyskinesia severity. 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
Authors: R Carron; V Fraix; C Maineri; E Seigneuret; B Piallat; P Krack; P Pollak; A L Benabid; Stéphan Chabardès Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2010-12-29 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: Mariachiara Sensi; F Preda; L Trevisani; E Contini; D Gragnaniello; J G Capone; E Sette; N Golfre-Andreasi; V Tugnoli; M R Tola; R Quatrale Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2014-01-08 Impact factor: 3.575