Premium
5: Movement disorders I: Parkinsonism and the akinetic‐rigid syndromes
Author(s) -
Rice Jane E,
Thompson Philip D
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2001.tb143316.x
Subject(s) - parkinsonism , levodopa , medicine , decarboxylase inhibitor , parkinson's disease , movement disorders , disease , refractory (planetary science) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , resting tremor , anesthesia , psychology , physics , astrobiology
The major features of akinetic‐rigid syndromes are bradykinesia (small, slow movements), rigidity and tremor, often summarised as “parkinsonism”. Approximately 80% of akinetic‐rigid syndromes are due to Parkinson's disease. Treatment of Parkinson's disease should be determined by level of disability and handicap. The combination of levodopa and peripheral dopa‐decarboxylase inhibitor is the most efficacious symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's disease. Motor fluctuations appear after 2–3 years of levodopa treatment, and affect at least 50% of patients after five years. Surgery can relieve refractory tremor and dyskinesias, but does not alter disease progression or need for drug therapy.