Daniela Calandrella

EuroInf: A multicenter comparative observational study of apomorphine and levodopa infusion in Parkinson's disease

Subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (Apo) and intrajejunal levodopa infusion (IJLI) are two treatment options for patients with advanced Parkinsons disease (PD) and refractory motor complications, with varying cost of treatment. There are no multicenter studies comparing the effects of the two strategies. This open‐label, prospective, observational, 6‐month, multicenter study compared 43 patients on Apo (48.8% males, age 62.3 ± 10.6 years; disease duration: 14 ± 4.4 years; median H & Y stage 3; interquartile range [IQR]: 3‐4) and 44 on IJLI (56.8% males, age 62.7 ± 9.1 years; disease duration: 16.1 ± 6.7 years; median H & Y stage 4; IQR, 3‐4). Cohens effect sizes (≥0.8 considered as large) were “large” with both therapies with respect to total motor, nonmotor, and quality‐of‐life scores. The Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) with Apo showed moderate improvement, whereas sleep/fatigue, gastrointestinal, urinary, and sexual dimensions of the NMSS showed significantly higher improvement with IJLI. Seventy‐five percent on IJLI improved in their quality‐of‐life and nonmotor symptoms (NMS), whereas in the Apo group, a similar proportion improved in quality of life, but 40% in NMS. Adverse effects included peritonitis with IJLI and skin nodules on Apo. Based on this open‐label, nonrandomized, comparative study, we report that, in advanced Parkinsons patients, both IJLI and Apo infusion therapy appear to provide a robust improvement in motor symptoms, motor complications, quality‐of‐life, and some NMS. Controlled, randomized studies are required.

Comorbid disorders and hospitalisation in Parkinson's disease: a prospective study.

Abstract.Parkinson’s disease (PD) is often associated with other disorders, typical of the disease or of the age of PD patients, that can lead to hospitalisation, sometimes as emergencies. In this one-year prospective, longitudinal study, we investigated the comorbid events prompting the hospitalisation, or occurring during the planned hospitalisation, of an unselected group of 180 PD patients, admitted to 9 general hospitals in the course of the study. The most frequent acute comorbid events were trauma (30.5%), mostly due to falls, and vascular disorders (29.3%). Comorbidities were closely related to PD in 50% of cases. More than 50% of patients did not require (in addition to PD therapy) specific treatment for the acute comorbid event. Older age was associated with increased risk of complications. The setting up of multidisciplinary networks covering entire territories could help to improve the way in which we tackle the clinical and social problems generated by PD and its comorbidities.

Modifications of apoptosis-related protein levels in lymphocytes of patients with Parkinson’s disease. The effect of dopaminergic treatment

Summary.In this study, we investigated whether changes in the regulatory mechanisms of apoptosis and oxidative stress may be detected, peripherally, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). For this purpose, we measured caspase-3 activity, Bcl-2 concentrations, peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) expression and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations in lymphocytes of untreated PD patients, patients treated only with L-Dopa or with L-Dopa and dopamine agonists and healthy volunteers. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in all PD patient groups. Patients treated with L-Dopa and dopamine agonists showed the lowest values of Bcl-2, coupled with the highest density of PBRs, while increased levels of Cu/Zn SOD were found in the group under monotherapy with L-Dopa. We also found, in PD patients, clear, negative correlations between Bcl-2 levels and both duration and severity of the disease. Our findings point to the existence of changes in the regulatory mechanisms of apoptosis in PD patients – observable outside the central nervous system – which seem to be modulated by the pharmacological treatment with dopaminergic agents.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of pramipexole

Introduction: Immediate-release (IR) pramipexole dihydrochloride is indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinsons disease (PD). It is administered alone (without levodopa) or in combination with levodopa, during the entire progress of the disease, up to an advanced stage. Currently, it is also indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). An extended-release (ER) formulation of pramipexole has been developed to allow a once-daily administration and to provide more stable dopaminergic stimulation in PD patients. Areas covered: This review summarizes the overall pharmacokinetic profile of pramipexole for both the IR and ER formulations. Also discussed are the clinically relevant determinants of pramipexole peripheral pharmacokinetics and the potential role of genetic and clinical determinants in drug efficacy. Expert opinion: Pramipexole is a non-ergot agonist with selective affinity for dopamine receptors of the D2 subfamily, in particular D3. Pramipexole has a very low affinity for serotoninergic 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors, as well as D1-type receptors. Furthermore, it does not carry the risk to induce valvular heart disease or pulmonary and retroperitoneal fibrosis, seen with long-term use of the ergot-derived dopamine agonists. The recent introduction of a once-daily formulation poses significant advantages for patients, reflected by relatively stable plasma levels. The most obvious benefit is convenience of use and better adherence to treatment schedule. Additional advantages could include the opportunity to provide more continuous drug delivery in a fashion that could help minimize dyskinesia risk, if the drug is used early in the disease course.

Causes of withdrawal of duodenal levodopa infusion in advanced Parkinson disease

Objective: We performed a real-life observation of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) who received duodenal levodopa infusion (DLI) to determine which adverse events caused treatment discontinuation and when such events occurred. Methods: All consecutive patients with PD treated at the Carlo Besta Neurological Institute were included. The patients were evaluated at baseline and after DLI at regular intervals. Their motor condition was assessed and adverse events were recorded. Results: Thirty-five patients with PD (15 men and 20 women) were included. They received DLI implants between October 2007 and September 2013. Four patients died of causes unrelated to the procedure. At the end of the study, 21 patients (60%) were still on treatment. DLI provided efficacious motor control in all patients. Discontinuation was most frequently caused by device- or infusion-related adverse events. Ten patients of the remaining 31 discontinued DLI. There were 2 main causes of withdrawal: stoma infection (4 patients), and worsening of dyskinesias not manageable with infusion reduction (3 patients). In most patients, discontinuations occurred during the first year after implant. Risk of discontinuation was related to age at implant, but no other demographic or clinical variables. Conclusions: We identified 2 main causes leading to DLI withdrawal during the first year postimplant and suggest adopting measures to prevent such occurrences. Elderly patients are at higher risk of treatment discontinuation.

Medical healthcare use in Parkinson's disease: survey in a cohort of ambulatory patients in Italy

BackgroundParkinsons disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease which at present has no cure, and it usually results in severe disability. The burden of PD increases as the illness progresses, resulting in the extensive utilisation of both health and community services. Knowledge of healthcare use patterns and of their determinants may greatly contribute to improve patient care, however few studies have examined this issue in PD. The present study was devised to describe the type of and reasons for medical healthcare resource use in persons with PD attending a Centre for PD and Movement Disorders, and to examine drug prescriptions issued on such occasions.MethodsThe study was a retrospective, cross-sectional survey in a cohort of ambulatory patients with PD, conducted by means of standard interviews.ResultsIn the year before the study, 92 (70.8%) of 130 patients used medical healthcare resources: 1/5 of the patients was admitted to hospital, 1/5 to emergency room, 2/5 were visited by a non-neurology specialist, and 1/4 by the GP. Reasons were: nearly 20% programmed hospital admissions and visits, and more than 25% injuries and musculo-skeletal diseases. Other conditions typically occurring in PD (e.g. dementia, diabetes and cardio- and cerebro-vascular disease) were less frequently involved. On such occasions, drugs for PD were occasionally changed, however drug prescriptions for other indications were issued to more than 66% of the patients.ConclusionSeveral physicians other than the neurologist may take care of PD patients on different occasions, thus emphasising the need for communication between the reference neurologist and other physicians who from time to time may visit the patient.

Therapeutic advances in dystonia.

Knowledge on dystonia has greatly improved recently, because of a renewed effort in understanding its cause, pathophysiology, and clinical characterization. Different drug classes traditionally have been used for the symptomatic treatment of dystonia, more recently surpassed by the introduction of botulinum neurotoxins and deep brain stimulation. No curative or disease‐modifying treatments are available. Recent knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of inherited dystonias is highlighting new potential treatment strategies. We review therapeutic advances in dystonia that have been published over the last 3 years, particularly regarding oral medications, local injections of botulinum neurotoxins, deep brain stimulation, and transcranial or epidural brain stimulations. We discuss evidence of efficacy, highlight recent advances, and focus on key areas under development.

Modifications of plasma and platelet levels of L-DOPA and its direct metabolites during treatment with tolcapone or entacapone in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Summary. We compared – retrospectively – the effects of a 3-month therapy with catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors tolcapone (100 mg, t.i.d.) and entacapone (200 mg, t.i.d.), on L-DOPA metabolism in two groups of parkinsonian patients with motor fluctuations. Plasma and platelets concentrations of L-DOPA and its direct metabolites, dopamine and 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD), were measured before starting treatment, after two weeks and at the end of treatment. Patients treated with tolcapone showed significant increases in plasma and platelet L-DOPA levels and marked reduction of plasma and platelet 3-OMD levels, both at short- and long-term. Entacapone did not modify L-DOPA levels, while inducing a less marked reduction of plasma and platelet 3-OMD concentrations, with respect to tolcapone, at both time points. Both drugs were similarly effective in increasing plasma and platelet levels of dopamine. These results confirm the different profiles of activity of the two drugs, with tolcapone proving more effective on both the intra- and extra-cellular levels of L-DOPA and 3-OMD.

Once-daily pramipexole for the treatment of early and advanced idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: implications for patients

Immediate-release (IR) pramipexole is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD), either alone (without levodopa) or in combination with levodopa, that is, during the entire progress of disease up to the advanced stage. It is also currently indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). An extended-release (ER) formulation of pramipexole has been developed to allow a once-daily formulation and to provide more stable dopaminergic stimulation. This review summarized the pharmacokinetic profile of pramipexole for both the IR and ER formulations, and discussed the role of pramipexole in the management of early and advanced PD. The introduction of a once-daily formulation of pramipexole poses significant potential advantages for patients and this is reflected by relatively stable plasma levels. The most obvious benefit is convenience of use and better adherence to treatment schedule. Additional advantages may be represented by the opportunity to provide continuous drug delivery in a fashion that could potentially help minimize dyskinesia risk if the drug is used early in the disease course.

Motor complications of Parkinson's disease

Abstract. Long-term treatment with levodopa in Parkinsons disease results in the development of motor complications, including drug failure, reduced duration of antiparkinsonian action (wearing off phenomenon), sudden shifts between under-treated and over-treated states (on-off phenomenon), freezing and involuntary movements such as levodopainduced dyskinesia. These motor complications can sometimes be solved with changes in the drug regimen, particularly the addition of dopamine agonists and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors and/or changes in levodopa dose, formulation and number of doses. Amantadine and selegiline can also be helpful in reducing motor fluctuations.