Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Enteral levodopa/carbidopa gel infusion for the treatment of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias in advanced Parkinson’s disease

2006; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 6; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1586/14737175.6.10.1403

1744-8360

Dag Nyholm,

Restless Legs Syndrome Research

Pharmacotherapy designed to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease is focused on the stimulation of striatal dopamine receptors. The ideal pharmacological treatment would involve continuous dopaminergic stimulation. Currently, the most effective pharmacotherapy available is levodopa delivered orally; however, its short plasma half-life in combination with erratic gastric emptying and intestinal absorption makes dopaminergic stimulation pulsatile. Motor fluctuations and dyskinesias develop with time as a consequence and can become disabling. A gel formulation of levodopa/carbidopa has been developed for enteral (duodenal or jejunal) infusion via a portable pump. The infusion provides smooth plasma levodopa levels, more continuous dopaminergic stimulation and effective treatment of motor complications.