Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
We are sorry, but NCBI web applications do not support your browser and may not function properly. More information
    Ann Neurol. 2008 Dec;64 Suppl 2:S56-64. doi: 10.1002/ana.21453.

    How do you treat motor complications in Parkinson's disease: Medicine, surgery, or both?

    Source

    Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. fahn@neuro.columbia.edu

    Abstract

    The motor complications associated with levodopa therapy, namely, fluctuations in motor response and dyskinesias, occur in the majority of Parkinson's disease patients. These complications can impair a patient's quality of life and even cause pronounced disability. "Off" states that result in freezing of gait and falling are disabling for many patients. Dyskinesias most commonly occur at peak dose and typically alternate with the wearing-off state. Once these problems appear, they usually persist, and the physician needs to make continual adjustments in medications to minimize these problems. Medical treatments should be attempted before treatments such as deep brain stimulation are considered because of the potential adverse effects that are associated with surgery. The timing of surgery, however, is also important because younger patients and less advanced patients tend to have a better outcome. There is thus a need for experienced and knowledgeable physicians and surgeons who are able to handle these motor complications. This review discusses available medications and surgical approaches, and their outcomes.

    PMID:
    19127577
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

      Save items

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk