Identification of motor and nonmotor wearing-off in Parkinson's disease: Comparison of a patient questionnaire versus a clinician assessment

Entacapone reduces cortical activation in Parkinson's disease with wearing-off: a f-MRI study

Background and Purpose

Wearing-off is one of the most frequent problems encountered by levodopa-treated patients. Entacapone, a peripheral inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), reduces this motor complication by prolonging the effect of levodopa. We sought to understand the impact of COMT-inhibition on movement execution in PD patients with wearing-off by comparing functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI) activation patterns prior to and during entacapone treatment. Our hypothesis was to determine whether changes in cortical activation are associated to COMT-inhibitor treatment.

Methods

Nine levodopa-treated non-demented PD patients with wearing-off were prospectively studied in two f-MRI session, prior to and during entacapone treatment. A group of control subjects were also studied for comparison.

Results

The patients significantly improved under COMT-inhibitor treatment based on home diaries. F-MRI results showed that at baseline the patients presented a bilateral activation of the primary motor, controlateral premotor cortex and supplementary motor area, as well as ipsilateral cerebellum. During treatment with entacapone, PD patients showed reductions in the activations of these cortical areas and a decreased activation in the ipsilateral cerebellum.

Conclusions

Our preliminary findings indicate that f-MRI is able to detect cortical activation changes during long-term modulation of dopaminergic treatment in PD patients with wearing-off, and thus, this technique could be further investigated in advanced PD patients.

Nocturnal journey of body and mind in Parkinson's disease: the manifestations, risk factors and their relationship to daytime symptoms. Evidence from the NIGHT-PD study

Nocturnal manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD) are myriad, have diverse etiologies and include motor, sleep, urinary, and neuropsychiatric symptoms which are often associated with daytime somnolence. While most patients perceive these symptoms as troublesome, the recognition of nocturnal problems related to PD is still low in clinical practice. We conducted a survey using semi-structured interviews and self-rated questionnaires of 215 consecutive patients with PD enrolled in three centers in Thailand to determine the prevalence and risk factors of nocturnal disabilities and their relationship to daytime symptoms. We found that 96.6% of patients reported the presence of nocturnal symptoms as determined by the modified version of Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (MPDSS). Our survey indicated that the most frequent and distressing symptom was the interruption of sleep to pass urine (56.7%, 4.4 ± 3.9). The severity of symptoms revealed in the MPDSS increased along with the disease duration (p < 0.05) and Hoehn and Yahr stages (p = 0.01). There were similar to findings of the Nocturnal Akinesia Dystonia and Cramp Score (NADCS) where patients with advanced disease had significantly higher NADCS scores than early/moderate disease (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation of total MPDSS scores with the total scores of the 9-item Wearing-Off Questionnaire (WOQ-9); (r = -0.43, p < 0.05) [motor (r = -0.35, p < 0.05) and nonmotor subscores (r = -0.43, p < 0.05)]; total nonmotor symptoms (NMS) scores (r = -0.55, p < 0.05); Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8 Summary Index (PDQ-8 SI) (r = -0.52, p < 0.05); and the total NADCS (r = -0.35, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis identified PDQ-8 SI (β = -0.27, p = 0.005) as the most significant predictor of nocturnal manifestations of PD, followed by the nonmotor subscore of WOQ (β = -0.24, p = 0.006), and the NMS item 20 (feeling light-headed, dizzy, or weak when standing from sitting or lying) (β = -0.22, p = 0.003). Our study found that nocturnal symptoms of PD are very common and we suggest that good clinical practice should include a comprehensive review of nighttime manifestations, particularly for those patients who already experience "wearing-off" symptoms.

The impact of extended release dopamine agonists on prescribing patterns for therapy of early Parkinson's disease: an observational study

Background

Dopamine agonists (DA) are the first-choice drug for treatment of the early stage of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in subjects younger than 70 years. Recently, a number of third generation DA have been marketed, including transdermal patch of rotigotine and extended release oral formulation of ropinirole and pramipexole.

We investigated the impact of third generation DA on management of the early stage of PD in an outpatient service for Movement Disorders in Italy.

Methods

Two 12-month observation periods were selected (January - December, 2007, and January - December, 2011) as representative for prescription of immediate and extended release formulations of DA respectively. Within each period, PD patients were divided into subgroups according to age (<65 years; 65–75 years; >75 years) or functional requirement (high; moderate; low). For each period, the number of subjects receiving monotherapy with DA, monotherapy with levodopa (LD), or combined DA/LD therapy and the relative doses were calculated. The severity of parkinsonian motor symptoms was calculated by means of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III) score. The frequency and severity of side-effects leading to discontinuation or reduction of DA drugs at each time point were also calculated.

Results

We found a significant reduction of daily LD dose (both as mono- and combined therapy) between the second and the first observation period. There was also a significant increase of monotherapy with DA and corresponding reduction of monotherapy with LD in patients aged 65–75 years, as well as in PD patients with moderate functional requirements. A significant reduction of frequency of side-effects was measured with extended release DA as compared to immediate release formulations. There were no significant differences of the UPDRS-III scores between the 2 observation periods in any subgroup.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that extended release DA might optimize therapeutic management of the early stages of PD even in patients older than 70 years of age.

Nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson's disease: expanding the view of Parkinson's disease beyond a pure motor, pure dopaminergic problem

Nonmotor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson's disease (PD) are critical to identify and treat because of their impact on quality of life. Despite growing evidence of the importance of NMS on patients' quality of life, gaps remain in their recognition and treatment. The result is a need for increased information and understanding of specific NMS and the clinical approaches for their assessment and management in the context of PD as a whole. This article discusses the NMS of PD, their relationship to the pathologic basis of PD, and how NMS can be best managed.

How far do the complaints of patients with Parkinson's disease reflect motor fluctuation? Quantitative analysis using a portable gait rhythmogram

In advanced-stage Parkinson's disease (PD), motor fluctuation is a frequent and disabling problem. Assessment of motor fluctuation depends on patient's subjective self-statement. We examined whether the subjective fluctuation matched the objective motor fluctuation defined by gait disorders. Using a new device, the portable gait rhythmogram, we recorded gait cadence and acceleration continuously over the 24-hour period in 54 patients with PD and 17 normal controls, for the quantitative evaluation of motor fluctuation. The patients were asked to estimate motor fluctuation every hour. In 44 of 54 patients, changes in the cadence were associated with simultaneous changes in acceleration. We examined the subjective fluctuation in these 44 patients who were confirmed to have motor fluctuation. Nineteen (82.7%) of 23 patients who felt no fluctuation showed distinct gait disorders. During off time, they walked with marked short or bradykinetic stepping. No matching changes were observed in either the cadence or acceleration in 11 (52.4%) of 21 patients who perceived motor fluctuation. No synchronization was noted in 30 (68.2%) of the 44 patients, between the times of subjectively assessed motor fluctuation and those of quantitative analysis of gait disorder. This discrepancy suggests that the objective continuous recording of the cadence and acceleration is necessary to understand motor fluctuation.

Nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

The recognition and treatment of nonmotor symptoms are increasingly emphasized in the care of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. This manuscript will review signs and symptoms localized, generally, to the cortex, basal ganglia, brainstem, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Cortical manifestations include dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and psychosis. Apathy, restlessness (akathisia), and impulse control disorders will be linked as basal ganglia symptoms. Symptoms attributed to the brainstem comprise depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Peripheral nervous system disturbances may lead to orthostatic hypotension, constipation, pain, and sensory disturbances.

The management of gastrointestinal symptoms in Parkinson's disease

The involvement of the autonomic nervous system in Parkinson's disease causes many non-motor symptoms, among which gastrointestinal complaints are prominent. Drooling, dyspepsia, constipation, abdominal pain and fecal incontinence are frequently a source of patient distress. Dysphagia is recognized as causing both discomfort and increased risk of serious complications. Although a diagnosis can often be established based on the reports of patients and/or caregivers, and additional testing is seldom required, these diagnoses are clearly under recognized in clinical practice. These symptoms respond to the same treatment measures used in the general population, although certain drugs with a potential to increase parkinsonian symptoms should be avoided. Increased and early identification of these symptoms can result in a significant improvement in the quality of life of Parkinson's disease patients.

Progression of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease that is clinically manifested by a triad of cardinal motor symptoms - rigidity, bradykinesia and tremor - due to loss of dopaminergic neurons. The motor symptoms of PD become progressively worse as the disease advances. PD is also a heterogeneous disease since rigidity and bradykinesia are the major complaints in some patients whereas tremor is predominant in others. In recent years, many studies have investigated the progression of the hallmark symptoms over time, and the cardinal motor symptoms have different rates of progression, with the disease usually progressing faster in patients with rigidity and bradykinesia than in those with predominant tremor. The current treatment regime of dopamine-replacement therapy improves motor symptoms and alleviates disability. Increasing the dosage of dopaminergic medication is commonly used to combat the worsening symptoms. However, the drug-induced involuntary body movements and motor complications can significantly contribute to overall disability. Further, none of the currently-available therapies can slow or halt the disease progression. Significant research efforts have been directed towards developing neuroprotective or disease-modifying agents that are intended to slow the progression. In this article, the most recent clinical studies investigating disease progression and current progress on the development of disease-modifying drug trials are reviewed.

Subthalamic stimulation in Parkinson's disease: restoring the balance of motivated behaviours

Addictions to dopaminergic drugs or to pleasant behaviours are frequent and potentially devastating neuropsychiatric disorders observed in Parkinson's disease. They encompass impulse control disorders, punding and dopamine dysregulation syndrome. A relationship with dopaminergic treatment is strongly suggested. Subthalamic stimulation improves motor complications and allows for drastic reductions in medication. This treatment might, therefore, be considered for patients with behavioural addictions, when attempts to reduce dopaminergic medication have failed. However, conflicting data have reported suppression, alleviation, worsening or new onset of behavioural addictions after subthalamic stimulation. Non-motor fluctuations are also a disabling feature of the disease. We prospectively investigated behaviour in a cohort of 63 patients with Parkinson's disease, before and 1 year after subthalamic stimulation using the Ardouin scale, with systematic evaluation of functioning in overall appetitive or apathetic modes, non-motor fluctuations, dopaminergic dysregulation syndrome, as well as behavioural addictions (including impulse control disorders and punding) and compulsive use of dopaminergic medication. Defined drug management included immediate postoperative discontinuation of dopamine agonists and reduction in levodopa. Motor and cognitive statuses were controlled (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, frontal score). After surgery, the OFF medication motor score improved (-45.2%), allowing for a 73% reduction in dopaminergic treatment, while overall cognitive evaluation was unchanged. Preoperative dopamine dysregulation syndrome had disappeared in 4/4, behavioural addictions in 17/17 and compulsive dopaminergic medication use in 9/9 patients. New onset of levodopa abuse occurred in one patient with surgical failure. Non-motor fluctuations were significantly reduced with improvements in off-dysphoria (P ≤ 0.001) and reduction in on-euphoria (P ≤ 0.001). There was an inversion in the number of patients functioning in an overall appetitive mode (29 before versus 2 after surgery, P ≤ 0.0001) to an overall apathetic mode (3 before versus 13 after surgery, P < 0.05). Two patients attempted suicide. Improvement in motor fluctuations is linked to the direct effect of stimulation on the sensory-motor subthalamic territory, while improvement in dyskinesias is mainly explained by an indirect effect related to the decrease in dopaminergic drugs. Our data suggest that non-motor fluctuations could similarly be directly alleviated through stimulation of the non-motor subthalamic territories, and hyperdopaminergic side effects might improve mainly due to the decrease in dopaminergic medication. We show an overall improvement in neuropsychiatric symptomatology and propose that disabling non-motor fluctuations, dopaminergic treatment abuse and drug-induced behavioural addictions in Parkinson's disease may be considered as new indications for subthalamic stimulation.

Nonmotor disorders and their correlation with dopamine: can they be treated by currently available methods?

Many of the nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson disease have a dopaminergic basis, whether the result of dopaminergic degeneration or as a result of dopaminergic treatment. In the latter case, the symptoms may be genuine side effects of drugs (hypotension, pathologic gambling, etc.) or they may be secondary either to the pathoplastic effect they have on the natural course of the disease (nonmotor fluctuations) or to the lack of dopamine (apathy, depression, dopamine withdrawal syndrome, etc.). In all these cases, dopaminergic treatment can be helpful. However, many other nonmotor (and motor) symptoms will have no correlation with dopamine; therefore, they require different treatments, very often with little efficacy, as in apathy or cognitive decline.

The Q10 questionnaire for detection of wearing-off phenomena in Parkinson's disease

In Parkinson's disease (PD), wearing-off can be difficult to detect as it is very variable and may affect motor and non-motor symptoms. The Wearing-Off Questionnaire, WOQ-32 (Stacy et al., 2005), was introduced to help identify wearing-off and proved to be very efficient. Two short versions of the questionnaire (WOQ-19 or QUICK and WOQ-9) were later developed to decrease the respondent burden without loss of efficacy in terms of sensitivity. The objective of the present study was to check the ability of a new 10-item QUICK version, Q10, to identify patients with wearing-off. Q10 items were selected from the QUICK validation study data set through statistical analysis and it was then tested on a sample of 162 PD patients, 64.8% with wearing-off. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 96%, 63%, and 85% respectively with one positive response and 90%, 70%, and 83% respectively with two positive responses. The correlation with the gold standard (neurologist diagnosis of wearing-off) was substantial (kappa = 0.62-0.64). Comparison with the QUICK and WOQ-9 shows that the Q10 can be a new tool for detection of wearing-off with satisfactory properties and a good balance between brevity and performance.

Reliability in one-repetition maximum performance in people with Parkinson's disease

Strength training is an effective modality to improve muscular strength and functional performance in people with Parkinson's disease (PWP). One-repetition maximum (1-RM) is the gold standard assessment of strength; however, PWP suffer from day-to-day variations in symptom severity and performance characteristics, potentially adversely affecting the reliability of 1-RM performance. Herein, we assessed the reliability of 1-RM in PWP. Forty-six participants completed two sessions of 1-RM testing of knee extension, knee flexion, chest press, and biceps curl at least 72 hours apart. Significantly differences between testing sessions were identified for knee extension (P < 0.001), knee flexion (P = 0.042), and biceps curl (P = 0.001); however, high reliability (ICC > 0.90) was also identified between sessions. Interestingly, almost third of subjects failed to perform better on the second testing session. These findings suggest that 1-RM testing can be safely performed in PWP and that disease-related daily variability may influence 1-RM performance.

The clinical spectrum of levodopa-induced motor complications

After more than 40 years of clinical use, levodopa (LD) still remains the gold standard for symptomatic efficacy in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, long-term treatment with LD is often complicated by the development of various types of motor response oscillations as well as drug-induced dyskinesias. These treatment-related motor complications evolve in approximately one-third of patients after only 2 years of LD exposure and, once established, they are difficult to treat and significantly contribute to overall disability and disease burden. Although first described soon after the introduction of LD, the pathophysiology of motor complications is still not completely understood. In fact, it is most likely that non-physiological pulsatile stimulation of dopamine receptors, which is followed by various downstream alterations, plays a key role in the development of LD-induced motor response oscillations and dyskinesias. This review outlines the various types of motor complications and will also address underlying mechanisms, treatment options, as well as impact on clinical disability and quality of life (QoL).

Does WOQ-9 help to recognize symptoms of non-motor wearing-off in Parkinson's disease?

EWO (Epidemiology of Wearing-Off symptoms among the population of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients on L-DOPA) is a multicentric, non-interventional, epidemiological and exploratory trial, focused on patients with PD who are treated with L-DOPA. The primary objective is the estimation of wearing-off symptoms (based on WOQ-9 questionnaire and assessment by neurologists) among PD patients who are treated with L-DOPA. From September 30, 2007 to June 30, 2008 altogether 563 valid records of PD patients were collected in movement disorders centers (Level A and Level B centers). Wearing-off symptoms were observed in 66.7% of PD patients (neurologists' assessment) and in 90.6% of PD patients (WOQ-9 questionnaire). The biggest discrepancy was found in PD patients treated with L-DOPA for 0-2 years. The probability of detecting wearing-off by the neurologists strongly correlated with the highest number of positive responses in the WOQ-9 marked by PD patients. There was significant difference in the diagnosis of wearing-off between Level A centers (77.7%) and Level B centers (62.0%). When motor and non-motor symptoms in the WOQ-9 were considered, the difference between neurologists came from the detection of non-motor symptoms (lower in the Level B centers). The neurologists' assessment of wearing-off symptoms and PD patients' subjective evaluation of the WOQ-9 is based on the experience of the neurologist and on the detection of the non-motor symptoms of wearing-off. Careful explanation of the WOQ-9 questionnaire and improved awareness of the non-motor symptoms of wearing-off is strongly suggested.

Parkinson's disease: the non-motor issues

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson's disease remain the most under-appreciated and under-researched when taken as a whole. Data is emerging that it is the "totaL" burden of NMS that is the major determinant of quality of life not a single NMS such as depression for instance. Only recently validated tools such as the NMSQuest which empowers patients to declare NMS and the NMS scale, the SCOPA scales, and the modified version of the MDS-UPDRS have become available and validated for bedside clinical assessment of NMS. For the first time clinical trials have been incorporating non-motor measures as outcome measures and clinical recommendations for treatment of non-motor symptoms of PD are being published. This review aims to address some of these topical and "real life" aspects of modern day management of Parkinson's.

Patient diaries as a clinical endpoint in Parkinson's disease clinical trials

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder with an estimated 4 million patients worldwide. L-dopa is standard, and often initial, therapy for patients with this condition; however, with continued dopaminergic treatment and as the disease progresses, the majority of patients experience complications such as "wearing-off" symptoms, dyskinesias, and other motor complications. These complications may become disabling and profoundly affect quality of life. Treatment modification and combination therapies with L-dopa, dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors, and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors are commonly used to manage complications. In recent years regulatory agencies, clinical researchers, and sponsors have widely accepted and utilized changes in "ON" and "OFF" time measured by Patient Hauser Diaries as endpoints for measuring efficacy of therapeutics seeking approval for symptomatic treatment of PD. Successful antiparkinsonian medications have been associated with treatment effects of more than 1 h in either reduction of "OFF" time of increase in "ON" time. Accurate "ON" and "OFF" time registration during clinical studies requires rigorous patient training. Reduced compliance, recall bias and diary fatigue are common problems seen with patient diary reported measures. Electronic diaries may help reducing some of these problems but may be associated with other challenges in large, multicenter studies.

A validation study of the Chinese wearing off questionnaire 9-symptom for Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVE

Development of wearing off (WO) often goes unnoticed for both patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and physicians due to the complexity of this phenomenon. A brief 9-symptom WO questionnaire (WOQ-9) was recently found to be highly sensitive in its detection. We aimed to validate a Chinese version WOQ-9 (CWOQ-9) among Chinese patients with PD.

METHODS

We recruited 101 literate Chinese PD patients among 4 different neurology or movement disorders clinics in Hong Kong to participate in this study by completing the CWOQ-9. Clinical judgment by the specialists was considered the gold standard for diagnosing WO.

RESULTS

The mean age (±SD) of the patients was 61 (±9) years and 35 (34.7%) of them were female. The disease duration was 7.4 (±5.4) years and 69 (68.3%) of them were diagnosed clinically to have WO by the specialists. The positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of CWOQ-9 were 86%, 71%, 87%, and 69% respectively. The area under curve (AUC) was 0.78 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This simple patient questionnaire is a valid tool for the detection of WO among Chinese PD patients.

Evaluation and management of the non-motor features of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is traditionally viewed as a motor disorder with a characteristic triad of tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia. There is now increasing awareness that PD is a complex systemic disorder with many nonmotor symptoms (NMS) which include autonomic dysfunction, sleep disorders, sensory and neuropsychiatric features. NMS become more common in severity and frequency with advancing disease when neuropsychiatric features such as cognitive impairment and psychosis dominate the clinical picture. NMS are strongly correlated with quality of life for patients and their families as well as institutional care placement. Despite their importance, NMS are poorly recognized by clinicians and often undeclared by patients. Use of a validated screening tool NMSQuest followed by specific symptom assessment instruments strengthens the recognition and holistic management of NMS in PD. Some NMS such as mood disturbance, anxiety, pain and insomnia may be improved by optimization of dopaminergic therapy. Conversely, psychosis, excess daytime somnolence or impulse control disorder (ICD) may be triggered by dopaminergic drugs. Other NMS such as dementia and severe depression may be unresponsive to dopaminergic treatment and may reflect perturbations in cholinergic, serotonergic or noradrenergic neurotransmitter function. These symptoms are more challenging to manage but may be ameliorated to some extent by agents such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitor or antidepressant drugs. This contribution reviews the evidence for the evaluation and management of key NMS in PD (apathy, anxiety, depression, psychosis, dementia, ICD, sleep disturbance, autonomic dysfunction, pain) and highlights the urgent need for both novel therapies and more controlled trials for current therapeutic strategies.

The wearing-off phenomenon and the use of questionnaires to facilitate its recognition in Parkinson's disease

Long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) with dopaminergic therapy is associated with a re-emergence of PD symptoms, referred to as wearing-off. Signs of wearing-off encompass motor symptoms, such as slowness of movement and stiffness, and non-motor symptoms, including anxiety and fatigue. Both motor and non-motor symptoms impact significantly on the function and quality of life of PD patients. Early detection and management of wearing-off has been shown to improve patient symptoms; however, identification of wearing-off, particularly the non-motor symptoms, is hampered by a lack of patient education, awareness, patient-physician communication, and limited time for evaluation. Several questionnaires have been developed to aid the detection of wearing-off. This review investigates the development and use of the Wearing-Off Questionnaires (WOQ-32, WOQ-19, and WOQ-9), as well as their sensitivity and specificity in identifying wearing-off. The manuscript also provides an overview of the motor and non-motor signs of wearing-off and highlights the available treatment strategies for managing this potentially debilitating phenomenon.

Non-motor dopamine withdrawal syndrome after surgery for Parkinson's disease: predictors and underlying mesolimbic denervation

Apathy has been reported to occur after subthalamic nucleus stimulation, a treatment of motor complications in advanced Parkinson's disease. We carried out a prospective study of the occurrence of apathy and associated symptoms, predictors and mechanisms in the year following subthalamic stimulation. Dopamine agonist drugs were discontinued immediately after surgery and levodopa was markedly reduced within 2 weeks. Apathy and depression were assessed monthly, using the Starkstein apathy scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Dopamine agonists were re-introduced if patients developed apathy or depression. Preoperative non-motor fluctuations were evaluated using the Ardouin Scale. Depression, apathy and anxiety were evaluated both on and off levodopa. Analysis of predictors of apathy was performed using a Cox proportional hazard model. Twelve patients who developed apathy and a control group of 13 patients who did not underwent [11C]-raclopride positron emission tomography scanning before and after oral intake of methylphenidate. In 63 patients with Parkinson's disease treated with subthalamic stimulation, dopaminergic treatment was decreased by 82% after surgery. Apathy occurred after a mean of 4.7 (3.3-8.2) months in 34 patients and was reversible in half of these by the 12-month follow-up. Seventeen patients developed transient depression after 5.7 (4.7-9.3) months and these fell into the apathy group with one single exception. At baseline, fluctuations in depression, apathy and anxiety scores were greater in the group with apathy. Fluctuations in apathy, depression and anxiety ratings during a baseline levodopa challenge were also significant predictors of postoperative apathy in univariate analysis, but not motor and cognitive states or the level of reduction of dopaminergic medication. The multivariate model identified non-motor fluctuations in everyday life and anxiety score during the baseline levodopa challenge as two independent significant predictors of postoperative apathy. Without methylphenidate, [11C]-raclopride binding potential values were greater in apathetic patients bilaterally in the orbitofrontal, dorsolateral prefrontal, posterior cingulate and temporal cortices, left striatum and right amygdala, reflecting greater dopamine D2/D3 receptor density and/or reduced synaptic dopamine level in these areas. The variations of [11C]-raclopride binding potential values induced by methylphenidate were greater in non-apathetic patients in the left orbitofrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, thalamus and internal globus pallidus and bilaterally in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, consistent with a more important capacity to release dopamine. Non-motor fluctuations are related to mesolimbic dopaminergic denervation. Apathy, depression and anxiety can occur after surgery as a delayed dopamine withdrawal syndrome. A varying extent of mesolimbic dopaminergic denervation and differences in dopaminergic treatment largely determine mood, anxiety and motivation in patients with Parkinson's disease, contributing to different non-motor phenotypes.

Responsiveness of motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson disease to dopaminergic therapy

BACKGROUND

The duration of clinical control of motor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) treated with levodopa/carbidopa preparations eventually starts to shorten, a phenomenon known as end-of-dose "wearing off." The involvement of core nonmotor symptoms of "wearing off" (depressed mood, pain/aching, anxiety, and cloudy/slowed thinking) is not well understood.

METHODS

A post hoc analysis from a study to validate the self-rated 9-item, Wearing-Off Questionnaire (WOQ-9), which was designed to identify motor and nonmotor symptoms of "wearing off" in PD patients, was performed to compare the frequency and sensitivity of motor and nonmotor symptoms of "wearing off" from dopaminergic therapy.

RESULTS

Analysis of responses to the WOQ-9 from 216 PD patients found that individual nonmotor symptoms were reported by 25% to 50% and motor symptoms by 55% to 80% of patients. Individual nonmotor symptoms improved following the next dose of dopaminergic therapy in 43% to 53% of the patients who presented with such symptoms, whereas motor symptoms improved in 48% to 66% of the cases, suggesting both types of symptoms respond to dopaminergic therapies.

CONCLUSION

Nonmotor symptoms of PD appear sensitive to dopaminergic treatment. These symptoms resemble those seen with depressive, anxiety, and somatoform disorders suggesting potential shared mechanisms as well as possible treatment implications.

24-hour recording of parkinsonian gait using a portable gait rhythmogram

OBJECTIVE

In the advanced stage of Parkinson's disease (PD), motor fluctuation is a frequent and a disabling problem. Despite its importance, motor fluctuation has received little scientific analysis probably due to limitation in objective assessment. Here, we focused on gait disorders to estimate motor fluctuation in daily activities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using a new device, the portable gait rhythmogram, we recorded gait rhythm continuously over 24 hours in 22 patients with PD and in 11 normal controls, for quantitative evaluation of motor fluctuation. The duration of one gait cycle was measured.

RESULTS

Continuous 24-hour recording identified changes in gait rhythm, which correlated with fluctuation of PD symptoms. Different motor fluctuations were observed; a shift to a faster gait cycle was noted in patients with short-step walking, festination or freezing of gait, whereas a shift to a slower gait cycle was observed in patients with bradykinesia or instability.

CONCLUSION

Characterization of motor fluctuation using this device could help in the selection of appropriate anti-PD medications.

Bradykinesia, muscle weakness and reduced muscle power in Parkinson's disease

Muscle power (force x velocity) could clarify the relationship between weakness and bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD). The aims of this study were to determine if patients with PD were weaker and/or less powerful in their leg extensor muscles than a neurologically normal control group and to determine the relative contributions of force and movement velocity/bradykinesia to muscle power in PD. Forty patients with PD and 40 controls were assessed. Strength in Newtons (N) was measured as the heaviest load the participant could lift. Power in Watts (W) was measured by having the participant perform lifts as fast as possible. The PD group were 172 N weaker (95% CI 28-315) and 124 W less powerful at peak power (95% CI 32-216) than controls. However, velocity at maximal power was only reduced compared with controls when lifting light to medium loads. When lifting heavy loads bradykinesia was no longer apparent in the PD group. These results suggest that reduced muscle power in PD at lighter loads arises from weakness and bradykinesia combined, but at heavier loads arises only from weakness. The absence of bradykinesia in the PD group when lifting heavy loads warrants further investigation.

Pain intensity on and off levodopa in patients with Parkinson's disease

Pain is frequently reported by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, intensity of pain as measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS) was assessed on and off levodopa in 15 patients with PD. All patients had motor fluctuations and suffered from pain of various types. Description of pain was assessed with the McGill pain questionnaire. Ratings for pain intensity on the VAS were increased during off period for all patients but one (P = 0.001). There was a correlation (P = 0.04) between changes in motor performance (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III) and pain intensity (VAS). Compared with a historical sample of subjects with different pain syndromes without PD, terms related to fear and punishment were used more frequently by patients with PD in this study. In two patients, pain was exclusively limited to the off period. The majority of subjects suffered from secondary pain possibly related to lumbar osteoarticular degeneration. Secondary pain was relieved but not completely abolished by levodopa. The results of this study suggest that aggravation of secondary pain should be considered as a part of the spectrum of nonmotor off symptoms. Analgesics should not be given as first line drugs when pain occurs or increases in off conditions, and pain can be significantly alleviated or abolished by adjustments of dopaminergic medication.

Medical treatment of Parkinson disease

The cardinal characteristics of Parkinson disease (PD) include resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Patients may also develop autonomic dysfunction, cognitive changes, psychiatric symptoms, sensory complaints, and sleep disturbances. The treatment of motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease is addressed in this article.

[Assessment of hyper- and hypodopaminergic behaviors in Parkinson's disease]

The common perception that Parkinson's disease patients tend to be depressed, anxious, apathetic and harm-avoiding has currently been challenged by the recognition that they can also exhibit a hedonistic, novelty-seeking personality. Thus, Parkinson's disease patients may indulge in their passions in an irresponsible and disinhibited manner, and engage in repetitive, compulsive behaviors that may be harmful and destructive to their social or professional lives. The dopamine dysregulation syndrome includes hypersexuality, pathological gambling, and compulsive shopping; it is associated with addiction to dopaminergic medication. However, not all behavioral changes are necessarily accompanied by a dopaminergic addiction. After antiparkinson treatment is initiated, patients enter a 'honeymoon period' during which changes in mood and behavior reflect a return to the patients' premorbid personality. The increased motivation and higher level of activity in professional as well as leisure activities are considered positive changes by both the patients and their relatives. With prolonged and increased dopaminergic treatment, these positive behavioral changes can become excessive and evolve into nocturnal hyperactivity and stereotyped, repetitive and time consuming behaviors which ultimately disorganize the patient's everyday routine and herald behavioral addictions. These drug-induced behavioral changes are under-appreciated by neurologists and under-reported by the patients who neither complain about the behaviors nor understand the relationship between motivated behavior and dopaminergic medication. For these reasons, we propose a new scale for the assessment of behavior and mood to quantify and track changes related to Parkinson's disease, to dopaminergic medication, and to non-motor fluctuations. This scale is based on the concept of hypo- and hyperdopaminergic mood and behavior. The scale consists of 18 items addressing non-motor symptoms, grouped in four parts: general psychological evaluation, apathy, non-motor fluctuations and hyperdopaminergic behaviors. The rating in five points (0-4 from absent to severe) is carried out during a semi-structured interview. Open-ended questions introduce each item, allowing patients to express themselves as freely as possible. Close-ended questions permit the rating of severity and intensity. This new instrument can be used by psychologists, psychiatrists or neurologists familiar with Parkinson's disease. Designed to detect changes in mood and behavior of Parkinson's disease patients resulting either from the disease or its treatment, this tool can be used in conjunction with the neurocognitive evaluation, to help tailor the treatment of motor and non-motor symptoms to each individual's needs.

Early versus delayed initiation of entacapone in levodopa-treated patients with Parkinson's disease: a long-term, retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

We analysed data from three clinical trials in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with wearing-off to determine whether early enhancement of levodopa therapy with entacapone can lead to better long-term outcomes than delayed entacapone treatment.

METHODS

Post-hoc analysis of pooled data from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and their long-term, open-label extension phases. In all three studies, patients on levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor (DDCI) were first randomized to entacapone ('early-start' group) or placebo ('delayed-start' group) for the initial 6-month double-blind phase, after which all patients received open-label levodopa/DDCI and entacapone treatment for up to 5 years.

RESULTS

A total of 488 PD patients with wearing-off were included in the analysis. A statistically significant benefit of early initiation of levodopa/DDCI and entacapone was found, with an improvement in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (motor) score of -1.66 (95% confidence intervals [-3.01, -0.31]) points compared with the delayed-start treatment group (P < 0.05). Levodopa/DDCI and entacapone therapy was well tolerated. There was no excess of dyskinesia in the early-start group.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that early rather than delayed addition of entacapone to levodopa/DDCI in PD patients with wearing-off provides a modest clinical benefit over levodopa/DDCI that is maintained for up to 5 years.

Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease: dopaminergic pathophysiology and treatment

Several studies, including work from the Parkinson's disease (PD) non-motor group and others, have established that the non-motor symptoms of PD are common, occur across all stages of PD, are under-reported, and are a key determinant of quality of life. Research suggests that the non-motor symptoms of the disease are frequently unrecognised by clinicians and remain untreated. Even when identified, there is a common perception that many of these symptoms are untreatable. The role of dopaminergic drugs in treating the various non-motor problems of PD, although clinically recognised, has received little attention. In this Review, we investigate the dopaminergic basis of the range of non-motor symptoms that occur in PD such as depression, apathy, sleep disorders (including rapid-eye movement sleep behaviour disorder), and erectile dysfunction. We discuss the evidence that these symptoms are treatable, at least in part, with various dopaminergic strategies and, where relevant, we also refer to the use of deep-brain stimulation of appropriate targets in the brain. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of the management of this challenging aspect of PD.

Quality of life in early Parkinson's disease treated with levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone

We aimed to investigate whether treatment with levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone when compared with levodopa/carbidopa improves quality of life in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with no or minimal, nondisabling motor fluctuations. This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study. One hundred eighty-four patients on 3 to 4 equal doses of 100/25 to 200/50 mg levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide, 0 to 3 hours of nondisabling OFF time over a 48 hour period and no dyskinesia were randomized to levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone or levodopa/carbidopa treatment for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was quality of life as assessed by the PDQ-8. Secondary outcome measures were the UPDRS parts I-IV, and the Wearing Off Card. Treatment with levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone resulted in significantly greater improvements in PDQ-8 scores compared to treatment with levodopa/carbidopa (mean difference 1.4 points, P = 0.021). Statistically significant improvements were seen predominantly in nonmotor domains (depression, personal relationships, communication, stigma, all P < 0.05; dressing P = 0.056). Patients who were randomly assigned to levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone also showed significantly greater improvement in UPDRS part II scores (P = 0.032) with UPDRS part III scores showing borderline significance. Differences in UPDRS parts I and IV and Wearing Off Card scores were not significant. Treatment with levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone results in improved quality of life compared with levodopa/carbidopa in PD patients with mild or minimal, nondisabling motor fluctuations.

Optimising levodopa therapy

Levodopa is still recognised to be the "gold standard" symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's disease. After 4-5 years however, its clinical efficacy declines and patients may experience the so-called "long-term levodopa syndrome", which represents the clinical counterpart of the changes of pharmacodynamic response to the drug. Long duration response (LDR) is substituted by the short duration response (SDR), which is responsible for the fluctuations of the clinical response. Strategies aimed at maintaining the clinical benefits for as long as possible and postponing the occurrence of motor complications as late as possible have been at the centre of scientific debates in recent years. We are still far from optimal use of the drug in the different stages or the disease, both regarding mode of administration and dose adjustment to individual needs.

Levodopa-related wearing-off in Parkinson's disease: identification and management

BACKGROUND

Levodopa is currently the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD); however, long-term levodopa therapy often results in motor complications, such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. The initial complication is commonly wearing-off, which is the re-emergence of motor and non-motor symptoms before the next scheduled levodopa dose.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article was to review published literature that discusses wearing-off, focusing on the role of the healthcare professional, including the primary care physician, in the effective management of wearing-off.

METHODS

An electronic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE to find articles discussing wearing-off and its management using the following keywords: 'Parkinson's disease'; 'wearing-off'; 'levodopa'; 'primary care'.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence indicates that a consistent delivery of levodopa should improve long-term symptomatic efficacy and may prevent or delay motor complications. A number of therapeutic options are available to optimize therapeutic outcome, including modification of the levodopa dose or dosing schedule,switching to another levodopa formulation and the use of adjunct therapies, such as catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors, dopamine agonists and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors. The management of wearing-off is dependent upon the early identification of symptoms and the initiation of effective treatment. Key issues are the need to educate patients and to facilitate good communication with both primary and secondary healthcare professionals. In most cases, patients with PD initially present to primary healthcare professionals who may refer the patient to a neurologist once disease management becomes more complex. However, in many cases, especially in rural areas where neurologists may not be widely available, the primary healthcare professionals may manage the patient throughout the disease course. Limitations of this review include the restricted search criteria and selected search period.

Early Parkinson's disease and non-motor issues

Non motor symptoms (NMS) of PD are a key determinant of health, quality of life and societal cost of PD. Contrary to common perception, many NMS of PD occur early in PD and some may even predate the diagnosis of PD which is based on motor signs. These include olfactory deficit, sleep problems such as REM behaviour disorder, contipation and the more recently described male erectile dysfunction. The non motor quesionnaire (NMSQuest) and the recently validated NMS scale allow falgging and quantification of NMS of PD and therefore are important tools to comprehensively assess symptom load in PD.

Introduction of a self-report version of the Prescription Drug Use Questionnaire and relationship to medication agreement noncompliance

The Prescription Drug Use Questionnaire (PDUQ) is one of several published tools developed to help clinicians better identify the presence of opioid abuse or dependence in patients with chronic pain. This paper introduces a patient version of the PDUQ (PDUQp), a 31-item questionnaire derived from the items of the original tool designed for self-administration, and describes evidence for its validity and reliability in a sample of patients with chronic nonmalignant pain and on opioid therapy. Further, this study examines instances of discontinuation from opioid medication treatment related to violation of the medication agreement in this population, and the relationship of these with problematic opioid misuse behaviors, PDUQ and PDUQp scores. A sample of 135 consecutive patients with chronic nonmalignant pain was recruited from a multidisciplinary Veterans Affairs chronic pain clinic, and prospectively followed over one year of opioid therapy. Using the PDUQ as a criterion measure, moderate to good concurrent and predictive validity data for the PDUQp are presented, as well as item-by-item comparison of the two formats. Reliability data indicate moderate test stability over time. Of those patients whose opioid treatment was discontinued due to medication agreement violation-related discontinuation (MAVRD) (n=38 or 28% of sample), 40% of these (n=11) were due to specific problematic opioid misuse behaviors. Based upon specificity and sensitivity analyses, a suggested cutoff PDUQp score for predicting MAVRD is provided. This study supports the PDUQp as a useful tool for assessing and predicting problematic opioid medication use in a chronic pain patient sample.