Abstract

OBJECTIVES To determine whether continous waking day dopaminergic stimulation with the dopamine agonist apomorphine can reduce levodopa induced dyskinesias in Parkinson’s disease

METHODS 19 patients with severe unpredictable refractory motor fluctuations and functionally disabling levodopa induced dyskinesias were treated with continuous subcutaneoius apomorphine monotherapy for a minimum duration of 2.7 years

RESULTS A mean 65% reduction in dyskinetic severity and a mean 85% reduction in frequency and duration occurred. On discontinuing levodopa a concomitant reduction in off period time was also seen (35% of waking day “off” reduced to 10%)

CONCLUSION Continuous waking day dopaminergic stimulation with apomorphine reset the threshold for dyskinesias and led to a pronounced reduction in their frequency. Apomorphine should be considered as a less invasive alternative to pallidotomy or deep cerebral stimulation in controlling levodopa induced interdose dose dyskinesias.