Tareq Sawan1, Mary Louise Harris1, Christopher Kobylecki2,3, Laura Baijens4, Michel van Hooren4, Emilia Michou1. 1. Center of Gastrointestinal Sciences Institute of Inflammation and Repair Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences The University of Manchester Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Greater Manchester United Kingdom. 2. Department of Neurology Greater Manchester Neurosciences Center Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Salford United Kingdom. 3. Center for Clinical and Cognitive Neurosciences Institute for Brain, Behavior and Mental Health University of Manchester Manchester United Kingdom. 4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Swallowing function in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) can be negatively affected by dopaminergic medication with associated inhibition of brainstem reflexes. Three different "swallowing-safety" profiles of PD patients were previously observed, classified according to swallowing safety on and off levodopa. METHODS: Here, we investigated the effects of l-dopa on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) on 26 individuals with PD from the three different swallowing-safety profiles. PFTs results were compared to predicted values and direct comparisons between the groups with or without dysphagia were performed with nonparametric statistical tests (i.e., Kruskal-Wallis). RESULTS: A short (12-hour) withdrawal from l-dopa did not result in any significant changes in PFTs, and no differences on PFTs results were observed between the different dysphagic groups the on and off l-dopa state. No correlation was observed between the PFTs results with swallowing safety profiles of PD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although deglutition seems to be at least partially affected by dopaminergic repletion, dopaminergic mechanisms do not seem to be responsible for PD patients' performance in PFTs.
BACKGROUND: Swallowing function in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) can be negatively affected by dopaminergic medication with associated inhibition of brainstem reflexes. Three different "swallowing-safety" profiles of PD patients were previously observed, classified according to swallowing safety on and off levodopa. METHODS: Here, we investigated the effects of l-dopa on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) on 26 individuals with PD from the three different swallowing-safety profiles. PFTs results were compared to predicted values and direct comparisons between the groups with or without dysphagia were performed with nonparametric statistical tests (i.e., Kruskal-Wallis). RESULTS: A short (12-hour) withdrawal from l-dopa did not result in any significant changes in PFTs, and no differences on PFTs results were observed between the different dysphagic groups the on and off l-dopa state. No correlation was observed between the PFTs results with swallowing safety profiles of PD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although deglutition seems to be at least partially affected by dopaminergic repletion, dopaminergic mechanisms do not seem to be responsible for PD patients' performance in PFTs.
Authors: Francisca Sueli Monte; Francisco Pereira da Silva-Júnior; Pedro Braga-Neto; Miguel Angelo Nobre e Souza; Veralice Meireles Sales de Bruin Journal: Mov Disord Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 10.338