Cardiovascular effects of domperidone in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with apomorphine.
OBJECTIVE
The cardiovascular effects of the peripheral dopamine D2-receptor antagonist domperidone were studied in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease treated with continuous subcutaneous infusion of apomorphine.


METHODS
Blood pressure and heart rate of 10 patients were monitored for 24 h before and after treatment with domperidone using an automatic device for blood pressure recording.


RESULTS
Blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly during 24 h of domperidone treatment. When day and night values were analysed separately, a significant difference of blood pressure between the groups was found only during the day whereas heart rate was significantly increased during both day and night. Domperidone shifted blood pressure and heart rate upwards without affecting the drop of blood pressure in the erect position.


CONCLUSIONS
Domperidone increases blood pressure and heart rate without inducing nocturnal hypertension in apomorphine treated patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Increased heart rate by domperidone is a new finding but the clinical significance is unclear and requires further investigation.
Sigurdardóttir
G R
GR
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neurology, Lund University Hospital, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Gudrun--R.Sigurdardottir@neurol.lu.se
Nilsson
C
C
Odin
P
P
Grabowski
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004294:Domperidone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004294:Domperidone; D001058:Apomorphine