A 10 year retrospective audit of long-term apomorphine use in Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Apomorphine is a potent dopamine agonist useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease patients with disabling motor fluctuations and 'off' periods, not responding to oral medication. It can also be of benefit in reducing dyskinesia by providing more constant dopaminergic stimulation and permitting lower levodopa dosage. However, there is a paucity of information on long-term benefits of apomorphine, including no large-scale phase III trial. We have examined our experience of apomorphine over the last 10 years, to assess indications, pattern of use, efficacy, and side effect profile. METHODS: All patients requiring apomorphine were identified through the Parkinson's disease Nurse Specialist's records. An audit form was produced so that the same information was gathered from all case-notes. RESULTS: There were 107 patients (61 males and 46 females). Mean age of disease onset was 50.9 years, SD+/-9.3 (range 29-78). The mean duration of disease at start of apomorphine treatment was 10 years (SD+/-4.8, range 2-29). The most common indications for apomorphine were severe unpredictable 'off' periods (75.7 %), motor fluctuations (18.7 %) and dyskinesia (5.6 %). Most patients (63.6 %) used both intermittent subcutaneous injections and infusion via pump; 25.2% were on intermittent injection, and 11.2 % infusion alone. Mean dose per injection was 3.7 mg. Mean infusion dose 69.8 mg, running over a mean of 13.5 hours. The mean duration of intermittent apomorphine use was 48.2 months. The mean duration of infusion was 25.1 months. Complications included skin problems in 16 patients, 2 had symptomatic hypotension, 2 worsening confusion, 1 new confusion and 5 new hallucinations (after sometime on apomorphine). Sixteen patients have stopped using apomorphine completely. Thirteen have stopped the pump, but continue on intermittent injections. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous apomorphine is easy for patients to use, is well tolerated and has a low incidence of side effects, especially confusion.