[Experience with levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease in Hungary]. / A levodopa/carbidopa intestinalis gél kezelés magyarországi tapasztalatai elorehaladott Parkinson-kórban.

ABSTRACT

In the advanced Parkison's disease (PD) the late complications of levodopa therapy have to be considered motor and/or non-motor fluctuations with or without disturbing dyskinesias. The non-motor fluctuations often influence the quality of life (QoL) in a much more negative way compared with the motor symptoms. In the treatment of advanced PD there are several device-aided methods - deep brain stimulation, apomorphine pump, levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) - to improve the symptoms, the QoL, sometimes even in an individual, tailored custom form. The LCIG therapy was introduced in Hungary in 2011. Here we summarize the data of our patients we have tested almost 60 patients and in 43 cases we have started this treatment. We analyze the duration of illness, levodopa therapy, motor and non-motor fluctuation of patients and present our experiences with the test phase and the chronic LCIG therapy via PEG/PEJ implantation. We paid attention to the surgery and device - depending side effects. Our experiences are similar to the international data. In patients selection ,,the right treatment, to the right patient, in the right time" is of importance.