Sung R. Kim

Bilateral Effects of Unilateral Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease

To investigate the bilateral effects of unilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS), we prospectively studied 9 consecutive advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients (2 men and 7 women) who underwent unilateral STN-DBS. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively with and without dopaminergic medications (‘on’ and ‘off’ medication, respectively). Postoperatively, patients were assessed with and without stimulation. We found that, when compared with baseline, the ‘off’ medication scores of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor part (UPDRS III) and activities of daily living (UPDRS II) were improved by 37% (p = 0.028) and 50% (p = 0.046) at 6 months after surgery, respectively. Stimulation while ‘off’ medication improved the total UPDRS score by 42% (p = 0.028) at 6 months. At 6 months after surgery, the subscore of UPDRS III of body parts contralateral to the DBS implantation had improved by 48% (p = 0.028), and the ipsilateral subscore of UPDRS III and the axial subscore of UPDRS III had improved by 20% (p = 0.027) and 39% (p = 0.028), respectively. Daily dosage of levodopa was reduced by 15% at 6 months. No patient exhibited permanent side effects. These findings indicate that unilateral STN-DBS may be a reasonable surgical procedure for selected PD patients who have markedly asymmetric parkinsonism.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by Korean patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVESnMany patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) often utilize complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We aimed to survey the prevalence, spectrum of use, and factors related to utilization of CAM in patients with PD in Korea.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnBetween 15 December 2005 and 30 April 2006, we studied 123 patients with PD who volunteered to be interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires.nnnRESULTSnNinety-four (76%) patients had used CAM. The mean cost of CAM paid by patients (out-of-pocket costs) was 102.3 US Dollars (USD) per month, while medical costs of treatment for PD paid by patients (out-of-pocket costs) averaged 72.8 USD per month. Patients using CAM sought to improve motor symptoms (57.6%), fatigue (19.6%), pain (4.3%), constipation (5.4%) or specified no single reason (13.0%). The spectrum of CAM use included oriental medicines (76.6%), traditional food (44.7%), non-prescribed drugs (31.9%), traditional therapies (7.4%), massage (7.4%) and behavioral therapy (7.4%). Factors related to current use of CAM were disease duration, degree of education, and daily levodopa equivalent dose. In a logistic regression analysis, the duration of PD was a significant factor for CAM use.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThese results suggest that a high proportion of Korean PD patients employed CAM, associated with high costs and serious side effects in some patients.

Factors predicting response to dopaminergic treatment for resting tremor of Parkinson's disease

We aimed to evaluate the clinical factors predicting response to dopaminergic treatment for resting tremor in patients with Parkinsons disease (PD). Eighty‐five PD patients with prominent resting tremor, defined as tremors of score greater than 3 in at least one limb on the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), were divided into those responsive or nonresponsive to dopaminergic treatment. Responsiveness was defined as a reduction of at least two points for more than 3 months in the UPDRS tremor score. Of the 85 patients, 36 (42.4%) were responsive and 49 (57.6%) were nonresponsive to dopaminergic treatment. Initial UPDRS III score (P = 0.015) and Hoehn and Yahr stage (P = 0.010) were each significantly higher in the RG than in the NRG. UPDRS subscores for rigidity (P = 0.012), bradykinesia (P = 0.021) and postural impairment (P = 0.018) also correlated with responsiveness to dopaminergic treatment. Resting tremor in PD patients was more responsive to dopaminergic treatment when accompanied by moderate degrees of bradykinesia and rigidity than in patients without other prominent parkinsonian features.

Efficacy and Safety of Simultaneous Bilateral Pallidotomy in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Although unilateral pallidotomy is generally considered a safe and effective neurosurgical treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), controversies concerning efficacy and adverse effects of bilateral posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) exist and need to be resolved. Methods: We studied 8 patients with advanced PD who underwent simultaneous bilateral PVP. The patients were assessed preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and 6 and 12 months later. Results: Dyskinesia was almost entirely abolished immediately after surgery, as well as being significantly lower 1 year later (p < 0.05). The ‘off’ medication score of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor part (UPDRS III) was significantly improved after surgery (p < 0.05) but increased gradually after 6 months. The off medication score of activities of daily living tended to improve immediately after surgery, but it returned to preoperative levels at 12 months. There were no major complications of surgery. Conclusions: Simultaneous bilateral PVP may be a safe and highly effective method of reducing levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Our results suggest that simultaneous bilateral PVP may be a reasonable therapeutic option for advanced PD with severe levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Lateralized effects of unilateral thalamotomy and thalamic stimulation in patients with essential tremor.

Background and Purpose Stereotactic thalamotomy has been an effective surgical procedure in the treatment of medically refractory essential tremor (ET), however, little is known about the bilateral effects of unilateral ventralis intermedius (Vim) thalamotomy and Vim deep brain stimulation (DBS). We studied the lateralized effects of unilateral Vim thalamotomy and Vim DBS in ET patients. Methods Vim thalamotomy was performed in 6 patients and Vim DBS in 6. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively using the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). Results The contralateral Part A (tremor localization/severity rating) and Part B (specific motor tasks/function rating) subscores, and axial subscores of CRST significantly improved after unilateral Vim thalamotomy or Vim DBS. On the side ipsilateral to surgery, ET patients demonstrated no significant improvements in the Part A and Part B subscores of CRST. The Part C (functional disabilities resulting from tremor) subscores and total scores of CRST were significantly improved after surgery. Conclusions Vim thalamotomy and DBS may be equally effective for the management of contralateral and axial tremor in ET patients, but both interventions may not improve tremor on the side ipsilateral to surgery.