Continuous levodopa infusions to treat complex dystonia in Parkinson's disease.
We report the clinical spectrum of 3 patients with Parkinson's disease who experienced complex patterns of levodopa-related dystonia. Dystonia was unrelieved by multiple medication regimens but responded well to continuous, duodenal levodopa infusions. Patients were able to remain mobile without severe dystonia despite a very narrow window of benefit between the levodopa concentration necessary to achieve the "on" state and that which caused the onset of dystonic spasms.
Sage
J I
JI
Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick.
McHale
D M
DM
Sonsalla
P
P
Vitagliano
D
D
Heikkila
R E
RE
D000368:Aged; D004386:Duodenum; D004421:Dystonia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010166:Palliative Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D007980:Levodopa