Drugs with potential cardiac adverse effects: Retrospective study in a large cohort of parkinsonian patients.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Drugs with potential cardiac adverse effects are commonly prescribed in Parkinson's disease (PD). To describe demographic and clinical characteristics in a group of PD patients with cardiac events and to evaluate risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We sampled 506 consecutive PD patients (211 women/295 men), median age 68.3±10.6 years (range 36-95) and median disease duration 11.2±6.5 years (range 1-49). Medications with potential cardiac effects, i.e. QT prolongation (citalopram, escitalopram, venlafaxine, sertraline, domperidone, amantadine, solifenacin), ventricular arrhythmia (rivastigmine, clozapine, midodrine, sildenafil, tadalafil) and ischemic heart disease (rasagiline, entacapone, tadalafil) were recorded. Demographic and clinical data were collected prospectively; cardiac events were obtained retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (4.7%) (9 women/15 men) presented a cardiac event. Fifteen (62.5%) patients had dysautonomia, 4 (16.6%) a history of heart disease and 8 (33.3%) were taking one or more drugs with a definite potential cardiac adverse effect. Age (75.9±6.6 yr vs. 67.8±11 yr), disease duration (14.7±3.6 yr vs. 11±6.5 yr), dysautonomia (62.5% vs. 24.5%) and dementia associated with PD (37.5% vs. 14.6%) were significantly higher in the group with cardiac events (P<0.05). Cofactors increasing the risk for cardiovascular events were age and dysautonomia. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the neurodegenerative process in Parkinson's disease is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular complications.

Parkinson's patients cope with daylight saving time.

Disturbances of the circadian timing system following daylight saving time (DST) may influence the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). To address this question, we compared the severity of motor fluctuations and non-motor symptoms both before and after the time change. Total daily "off-time" based on diaries, excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), and psychosis associated with PD were assessed both before and after the DST. Eighty-three PD patients (mean age, 67±7.7years; mean disease duration, 10.4±6.4years) were included. Thirty-six patients had motor fluctuations (mean daily "off-time", 4.8±2.4h/day). There was no significant variation of the total daily "off-time" (2.5±2.6h/day versus 2.5±2.7h/day), ESS (8.3±4.8 versus 8.1±4.9), BDI (10.4±6.2 versus 10.0±6.9), or PAPD (1.4±1.6 versus 1.1±1.6) scores (P>0.05) after DST. Our results suggest that PD patients cope relatively well with DST.

[Stroke and cornea verticillata revealing Fabry's disease in a female]. / Accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique et cornée verticillée révélant une maladie de Fabry chez une femme.

INTRODUCTION: Fabry's disease is a X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by an alpha-galactosidase A deficiency responsible for the accumulation of glycosphingolipids. Males are more severely and frequently affected than females. We report the case of a female who presented a stroke revealing Fabry's disease. CASE REPORT: An 53-year-old woman, with cardiovascular risk factors and two previous transient ischemic attacks, was admitted with a brutal right hemiparisia. Cerebral MRI showed multiple white matter lesions in the cerebral hemispheres with multiple lacunar infarcts and ectatic vessels, cardiac echography revealed a hypertrophic concentric cardiomyopathy, and slit-lamp examination demonstrated a cornea verticillata. The sequencing of the alpha-galactosidase gene (GLA) revealed the c.150_151del mutation responsible for a loss of function. DISCUSSION: As in the present case, ophthalmological examination is very useful to determine Fabry's disease as a cause of young onset stroke. Females may be affected by X-linked disease, as the Fabry's disease. Fabry's disease among females is mainly characterized by the involvement of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. The specific treatment is based on an enzyme replacement therapy by recombinant enzyme with cardiovascular benefit. Despite the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, this case demonstrates the importance of thorough standardized investigations including ophthalmological examination of young patients with stroke.

Life in the orchestra.

The concert soloist and conductor are prominent figures within the orchestra. Their roles make extraordinary demands on them--demands that must often be fulfilled while dealing with the problems of travel. Maintaining one's skill is a constant concern. The orchestra musician is also constantly on guard to maintain performance excellence. Unusual work patterns, obsession with the job, and job stress can put pressure on home life. The strong emotional personality of the orchestra musician must adapt to the conductor's desires and musical tradition. The player must coordinate performance with other group members. Other factors contribute to an environment with rigid boundaries and to the isolation of orchestra members as a group. With the development of performing arts medicine, injuries are less stigmatized and better treated, and performance stress is better managed. A patient's view of medicine is offered here.