Clinical Benefits of Reprogramming Chronic Subthalamic Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease

Reprogramming of chronic deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease is often underutilized despite potential clinical benefit.

The aim was to assess the impact of systematic reprogramming in patients with long-term subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS.

Ten patients with long-term STN-DBS underwent systematic reprogramming due to recurrence of motor symptoms or increased medication needs. Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III scores (medication off/DBS ON) and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) were compared across initial programming, pre-reprogramming, and post-reprogramming using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Reprogramming yielded a significant 24% improvement in MDS-UPDRS Part III scores (P = 0.02) without significant LEDD change. Imaging revealed that reprogramming commonly engaged dorsolateral or supra-STN regions by increasing amplitude or changing from bipolar to monopolar settings while maintaining contact pairs.

Systematic reprogramming can improve long-term motor outcomes in STN-DBS. Imaging may assist in understanding and guiding effective reprogramming strategies.