title: Experience with continuous enteral levodopa infusions in the treatment of 9 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Nine patients with advanced Parkinson's disease were started on continuous enteral levodopa infusions during the past 3 years. Six have remained on the infusion system for 1 to 28 months. All patients experienced immediate amelioration of motor fluctuations, and 5 patients continue to obtain relief. One patient found that his ability to achieve the "on" state without unacceptable dyskinesia waned. Experience thus far indicates that continuous long-term levodopa infusions are a practical but complex form of therapy for patients failing more conventional treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, 08903.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trooskin
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sonsalla
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Heikkila
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa