Use of apomorphine in Parkinson's disease.
In the parkinsonian patient, the striatal levels of dopamine strictly depend on peripheral levodopa levels; short half-life of levodopa is responsible for plasmatic level fluctuations, which are consistent with a pulsatile receptor stimulation of the striatal system. This sort of non-physiologic stimulation induces a change of the condition of post-synaptic neurons, which is considered responsible for the fluctuations of clinical response. In this respect, apomorphine administration, via infusion pump, may be a good therapeutic option, aimed at obtaining continuous receptor stimulation, assisting in the management of motor fluctuations in the advanced phase of the disease.
Stocchi
Fabrizio
F
Department of Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy. fabrizio.stocchi@sanraffaele.it
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008090:Lisuride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007980:Levodopa; D008090:Lisuride; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine