[Management of Parkinson's disease in 2009].
The cause of Parkinson's disease remains unknown and no cure or prevention exists so far. Levodopa remains by far the most potent symptomatic therapy, but induces side-effects such as motor fluctuations and abnormal movements, which can somewhat be counterbalanced by optimizing levodopa plasma levels or acting at receptors level with long half-life dopamine agonists. In severe cases, functional surgery with deep brain stimulation can be offered. Some non-dopaminergic symptoms like dementia, freezing, postural instability or dysautonomia do not respond to dopaminergic drugs and need special care.
Maertens de Noordhout
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Service universitaire de neurologie, Hôpital de la Citadelle, Bd du 12e de ligne, 4000 Liège, Belgique. al.maertens@chu.ulg.ac.be
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D054969:Primary Dysautonomias / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007980:Levodopa