Duodenal levodopa infusion improves quality of life in advanced Parkinson's disease

A significant percentage of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) continue to experience motor fluctuations and dyskinesias despite the association of dopamine agonists and levodopa with COMT or MAO-B inhibitors. The use of apomorphine infusion is limited by compliance while deep brain stimulation is feasible only for a small number of patients mostly because of age constraints.

To assess prospectively the effectiveness of duodenal levodopa infusion on quality of life as well as motor features in patients with advanced PD. In all but 1 case levodopa infusion was stopped at nighttime.

We report the outcome of 22 PD patients, followed for up to 2 years, who were on continuous duodenal levodopa/carbidopa infusion through percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

We found a significant reduction in 'off' period duration as well as dyskinesia severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part IV, items 33 and 39). There was significant improvement in the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire as well as in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part II up to the 2-year follow-up. Five patients withdrew: 2 for poor compliance and 3 for adverse events (1 was related to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy).

These results demonstrate significant clinical improvements in quality of life and activities of daily living consistent with the occurrence of a satisfactory therapeutic response and a reduction in dyskinesia severity.