title: Intrajejunal levodopa infusion in advanced Parkinson's disease: long-term effects on motor and non-motor symptoms and impact on patient's and caregiver's quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuous infusion of intrajejunal levodopa/carbidopa gel (CIILG) for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) has been proved to be beneficial on motor complications, non-motor symptoms and quality of life in the short-term follow-up. Aim of this two-center, retrospective, open-label study was to evaluate the long-term effect of CIILG on patients' condition and caregivers' quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The assessments (performed at baseline and at latest follow-up available after CIILG) included: the unified PD rating scale (UPDRS I-IV), the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS), the PD questionnaire (PDQ-8), the PD sleep scale (PDSS), and a battery assessing the cognitive and psychiatric status as well as caregiver's quality of life. Medications were expressed as levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  14 advanced PD patients (age: 67.0 +/- 11.5 years, disease duration: 12.9 +/- 4.8 years) were followed for 24.9 +/- 14.4 months after CIILG. Total LEDD was unchanged at follow-up, however therapy was globally simplified by reducing dopamine agonists (DAs). A statistically significant beneficial effect was shown on motor complications while the severity of motor symptoms did not change over time. A significant improvement of depressive symptoms and psychiatric side effects caused by DAs was detected. Sleep quality and diurnal somnolence ameliorated as revealed by the significant reduction of PDDS. Caregivers' stress and patients' quality of life were not significantly improved. However, when categorized according to their outcome, patients with improvement of motor condition and functionality gained an improvement of quality of life. Apart from the severity of motor impairment at baseline, no other predicting factors were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CIILG is an effective treatment option for patients with advanced PD over the long-term period as it may improve both the motor complications and the psychiatric side effects caused by other dopaminergic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. alfonso.fasano@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lena
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bentivoglio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Modugno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007583:Jejunum / Q000502:physiology*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa