An analysis of treatment options and outcome in patients with Parkinson's disease and severe dyskinesias

Forty-one patients with Parkinson's disease and severe dyskinesias were analyzed retrospectively to determine if some general principles would emerge to aid physicians handling this complication of treatment. Dyskinesia type (high dopa chorea [HDC], low dopa chorea [LDC], high dopa dystonia [HDD], and low dopa dystonia [LDD]) predicted response to treatment and whether or not levodopa dose reduction would benefit dyskinesias without producing unacceptable "offs." High dopa chorea improved best but at the expense of increased "off" time, followed by LDD, HDD, and LDC. Levodopa reduction was an acceptable strategy in ameliorating HDC and LDD only. Adjunctive therapy benefited all dyskinesia types, although the majority of patients (12/17) helped by selegiline had LDD or LDC. Generally, low doses of dopamine agonists were helpful (bromocriptine < 20 mg/day; pergolide < 2 mg/day). When adding adjunctive therapy (except for selegiline or controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa), concomitant reduction in daily dose of levodopa was not an effective strategy to decrease dyskinesias. Serial trials of multiple drug regimens are useful in these patients.

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				J. M. Miyasaki, W. Martin, O. Suchowersky, W. J. Weiner, and A. E. Lang Practice parameter: Initiation of treatment for Parkinson's disease: An evidence-based review: Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology Neurology, January 8, 2002; 58(1): 11 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]