Ten years' experience with enteral levodopa infusions for motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.
We report our long-term experience using enteral levodopa infusions in 22 patients with Parkinson's disease and severe motor fluctuations. Amelioration of intractable dyskinesias was the most important factor that determined whether patients chose to continue using the infusion pump system. Mechanical and physical problems associated with enteral access were the most common reasons for which patients discontinued pump use. Nearly all patients continued to have dramatically increased on time for the duration of follow up, suggesting that technically less-cumbersome systems that provide continuous dopaminergic stimulation are worthwhile and should be developed.
Syed
N
N
Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08901, USA.
Murphy
J
J
Zimmerman
T
T
Mark
M H
MH
Sage
J I
JI
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000295:instrumentation; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa