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Ten years' experience with enteral levodopa infusions for motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Syed Nadir,
Murphy John,
Zimmerman Thomas,
Mark Margery H.,
Sage Jacob I.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.870130222
Subject(s) - parkinson's disease , levodopa , enteral administration , dopaminergic , medicine , dyskinesia , disease , anesthesia , deep brain stimulation , central nervous system disease , parenteral nutrition , intensive care medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , pediatrics , surgery , dopamine
Abstract 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.