Implications of dopaminergic medication withdrawal in Parkinson's disease

End-of-Life and Hospice Care in Neurologic Diseases

The care of a patient with neurologic disease at end-of-life requires expertise in addressing advance care planning, hospice, symptom management, and caregiver support. Neurologists caring for patients with advanced neurologic disease often identify changes in disease trajectory, functional status, or goals of care that prompt discussions of advance care planning and hospice. Patients nearing end-of-life may develop symptoms such as dyspnea, secretions, delirium, pain, and seizures. Neurologists may be the primary clinicians managing these symptoms, particularly in the hospitalized patient, though they may also lend their expertise to non-neurologists about expected disease trajectories and symptoms in advanced neurologic disease. This article aims to help neurologists guide patients and caregivers through the end-of-life process by focusing on general knowledge that can be applied across diseases as well as specific considerations in severe stroke and traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and dementia.

Efficacy of acupuncture as adjunct therapy for sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to summarize existing clinical studies through a systematic review to explore the efficacy of acupuncture in treating sleep disorders in PD patients.

METHODS

According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we retrieved the papers through 30 April 2023 from eight databases. The experimental group was treated with acupuncture plus conventional therapy, while the control group was treated with conventional therapy alone or combined with sham acupuncture. The sleep quality was the primary outcome. A team of researchers meticulously performed literature screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment following the Cochrane Handbook. A meta-analysis was synthesized using Review Manager Version 5.4 software if feasible. The quality of the evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool.

RESULTS

A total of 973 papers were identified, with 15 papers involving 957 patients were included in this systematic review. The results showed that acupuncture interventions included manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion and bleeding, with 1-7 times every week implemented during 2-12 weeks. Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy compared to conventional therapy alone showed better effect in sleep quality and overall symptoms of PD. Risk of bias assessment showed deficiencies in blinding and allocation concealment. All included studies were synthesized in a meta-analysis, as the result of which, acupuncture improved PDSS scores(MD =16.57; 95% CI, 7.24-25.90; I2 = 97%) and effective rate for sleep disorders (OR = 5.91; 95% CI, 1.71-20.39; I2 = 54%); meanwhile, acupuncture reduced UPDRS scores(MD = -4.29; 95% CI, -6.54 - -2.03; I2 = 77%) and improved effective rate for PD (OR = 3.22; 95% CI, 1.81-5.72; I2 = 0%). The quality of evidence ranged from low to moderate by GRADE.

CONCLUSION

This study provides initial evidence that acupuncture as an adjunct therapy might be associated with improvement of sleep disorders in PD. Due to the lack of high-quality studies, larger sample size studies with sham acupuncture groups should be conducted in future.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022364249 (PROSPERO).

Terminal Care in Parkinson's Disease: Real-Life Use of Continuous Subcutaneous Apomorphine Infusion to Improve Patient Comfort

BACKGROUND

There are currently no recommendations on the therapeutic management of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients at the end of life.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a cohort of patients with PD who benefited from continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (CSAI) initiation at the end of their life as comfort care.

METHODS

This real-life cohort includes 14 PD patients, who benefited from 24-h, low-dose CSAI (0.5-3 mg/h) in the context of terminal care. Patient's comfort (pain, rigidity, and/or ability to communicate) and occurrence of CSAI-related side-effects (nausea/vomiting, cutaneous and behavioral manifestations) were evaluated based on medical records.

RESULTS

All patients (age 62-94 years, disease duration 2-32 years) presented with late-stage PD and a compromised oral route. Treatment lasted from a few hours to 39 days. CSAI led to substantial functional improvement, with a good safety profile. Overall clinical comfort was deemed improved by the medical team, the patient, and/or caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

CSAI might be a promising approach in PD terminal care, as it reduces motor symptoms and overall discomfort, with an apparent good safety profile. Use of the apomorphine pen, sublingual film or a classic syringe pump might be considered when apomorphine pumps are not available. Larger observational cohorts and randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the efficacy and tolerability of apomorphine in the context of terminal care and more broadly, in an advance care planning perspective.

Practical use of apomorphine infusion in Parkinson's disease: lessons from the TOLEDO study and clinical experience

Subcutaneous apomorphine infusion is a device-aided therapy for Parkinson's disease that can be considered when motor fluctuations become persistent and are no longer adequately controlled by oral/transdermal medication. Apomorphine infusion is less invasive than enteral levodopa, deep brain stimulation or focused ultrasound, and is often indicated even when neurosurgical approaches are contraindicated. This article aims to provide practical guidance for doctors and nurses initiating and treating patients with apomorphine infusion, and is based on both trial data and clinical experience from movement disorders specialists. A post hoc analysis of data from the TOLEDO randomized clinical trial of apomorphine infusion was conducted along with an analysis of 'real world' experience from 13 movement disorders specialists using a questionnaire that focused on starting patients on apomorphine infusion. Practical guidelines for starting treatment with apomorphine infusion are provided taking into consideration the regional disparities in healthcare. Apomorphine infusion is straightforward to administer but to be successful it requires concordance from the patient and family, and clinical support from an experienced team of doctors and nurses, particularly in the early months of treatment.

The Neuroprotective Effect of Isotetrandrine on Parkinson's Disease via Anti-Inflammation and Antiapoptosis In Vitro and In Vivo

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most influential diseases in the world, and the current medication only can relieve the clinical symptoms but not slow the progression of PD. Therefore, we intend to examine the neuroprotective activity of plant-derived compound isotetrandrine (ITD) in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, cells were cotreated with ITD and LPS to detect the inflammatory-related protein and mRNA. In vivo, zebrafish were pretreated with ITD and inhibitors prior to 6-OHDA treatment. Then, the behavior was monitored at 5 dpf. Our result showed ITD inhibited LPS-induced upregulation of iNOS, COX-2 protein expression, and iL-6, inos, cox-2, and cd11b mRNA expression in BV2 cells. The data in zebrafish also demonstrated a significant improvement of ITD on the 6-OHDA-induced locomotor deficiency. ITD also improved 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis in zebrafish PD. We also pharmacologically validated the mechanism with three inhibitors, including LY294002, PI3K inhibitor; LY32141996, ERK inhibitor, SnPP, and HO-1 inhibitors. All of these inhibitors could abolish the neuroprotective effect of ITD partially in locomotor activity. Besides, the molecular level also showed the same trend. Treatment of these inhibitors could significantly abolish ITD-induced antineuroinflammatory and antioxidative stress effects in zebrafish PD. Our study showed ITD possessed a neuroprotective activity in zebrafish PD. The mRNA level also supported our arguments. The neuroprotection of ITD might be through antineuroinflammation and antiapoptosis pathways via PI3K, ERK, and HO-1.

Rapid symptom control in neuroleptic malignant syndrome with electroconvulsive therapy: A case report

Introduction

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), thought to arise through dopamine antagonism, is life-threatening. While prompt diagnosis of NMS is critical, it may be obscured by other diagnoses, such as malignant catatonia, with overlapping, life-threatening symptoms. Initiation of dopamine-blocking agents such as antipsychotics and abrupt cessation of dopaminergic medications such as amantadine can precipitate NMS. Once NMS is suspected, deft medical management should ensue. Multiple case reports detail electroconvulsive therapy's (ECT's) effectiveness in the treatment of NMS. While this relationship is well-documented, there is less literature regarding comparative efficacy of ECT in the acute treatment of NMS-like states precipitated by withdrawal of dopamine agonists, such as amantadine.

Case

We present a 52-year-old female with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, with a history of a lorazepam-resistant catatonic episode the prior year that had responded to amantadine. She presented febrile with altered mental status, lead pipe rigidity, mutism, grasp reflex, stereotypy, autonomic instability, and a Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) of 24, suggesting malignant catatonia versus NMS. There was concern over a potentially abrupt cessation of her amantadine of which she had been prescribed for the past year.

Interventions

Organic etiologies were ruled out, and a presumptive diagnosis of NMS was made with central dopaminergic depletion from abrupt dopamine agonist (amantadine) withdrawal as the suspected underlying etiology. After intravenous lorazepam and reinduction of amantadine failed to alleviate her symptoms, urgent ECT was initiated. Our patient received an index series of ECT of seven treatments. After ECT #1 she was no longer obtunded, after treatment #2 her symptoms of mutism, rigidity, stereotypy, and agitation showed improvement, and by ECT #3, the NMS had rapidly dissipated as evidenced by stable vital signs, lack of rigidity, and coherent conversation.

Conclusion

Brisk identification of potentially life-threatening NMS and NMS-like states, including malignant catatonia, warrants a trial of ECT. ECT's theoretical mechanisms of action coincide with the theoretical pathophysiology of the conditions. It is a viable and safe treatment option for reducing mortality. With prompt initiation of ECT, we obtained rapid control of a condition with a potentially high mortality.

Visual Cues for Turning in Parkinson's Disease

Turning is a common impairment of mobility in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), which increases freezing of gait (FoG) episodes and has implications for falls risk. Visual cues have been shown to improve general gait characteristics in PD. However, the effects of visual cues on turning deficits in PD remains unclear. We aimed to (i) compare the response of turning performance while walking (180° and 360° turns) to visual cues in people with PD with and without FoG; and (ii) examine the relationship between FoG severity and response to visual cues during turning. This exploratory interventional study measured turning while walking in 43 participants with PD (22 with self-reported FoG) and 20 controls using an inertial sensor placed at the fifth lumbar vertebrae region. Participants walked straight and performed 180° and 360° turns midway through a 10 m walk, which was done with and without visual cues (starred pattern). The turn duration and velocity response to visual cues were assessed using linear mixed effects models. People with FoG turned slower and longer than people with PD without FoG and controls (group effect: p < 0.001). Visual cues reduced the velocity of turning 180° across all groups and reduced the velocity of turning 360° in people with PD without FoG and controls. FoG severity was not significantly associated with response to visual cues during turning. Findings suggest that visual cueing can modify turning during walking in PD, with response influenced by FoG status and turn amplitude. Slower turning in response to visual cueing may indicate a more cautious and/or attention-driven turning pattern. This study contributes to our understanding of the influence that cues can have on turning performance in PD, particularly in freezers, and will aid in their therapeutic application.

Rasagiline Withdrawal Syndrome in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients using dopamine agonists can develop withdrawal symptoms, referred to as dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS), under dose tapering or discontinuation of these drugs. DAWS includes a severe stereotypical cluster of psychiatric and psychological symptoms encompassing severe mood and anxiety disturbances, autonomic symptoms, as well as generalized pain and drug cravings. However, symptoms of withdrawal of dopamine replacement therapies (DRT) are not simply limited to dopamine agonists tapering, as observed in PD patients on deep brain stimulation after dopaminergic drugs withdrawal related to surgery. To date, no DRT-related withdrawal syndrome has been described in PD patients who discontinue rasagiline, an irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B). Here we report three PD patients who developed a severe withdrawal syndrome after rasagiline suspension. The syndrome was mainly characterized by prominent psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety with panic attacks, dysphoria, and agitation) associated with fatigue, generalized pain, and autonomic manifestations (closely resembling symptoms of DAWS). In our opinion, this report suggests the importance of closely monitoring PD patients undergoing rasagiline suspension for withdrawal symptoms and provides interesting points of reflection on the role of rasagiline and other MAO-B inhibitors in mood disorders.

An updated calculator for determining levodopa-equivalent dose

Calculation of levodopa-equivalent dose in Parkinson’s disease has become common in research, but is also a useful tool in clinical practice, especially when initiating device-aided treatments (deep brain stimulation, apomorphine and levodopa infusions). The aim with the present calculator is to provide an updated conversion table, including dose calculation of the recently developed levodopa/entacapone/carbidopa intestinal gel infusion. Future versions of the calculator should be made conducive to learning by means of artificial intelligence.