Bilateral pallidal deep brain stimulation in myoclonus-dystonia: our experience in three cases and their follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Myoclonus-dystonia syndrome (MDS) is an autosomal dominant movement disorder caused by mutations in the SGCE gene. MDS is characterized by mild dystonia and myoclonic jerks, and a constellation of psychiatric manifestations. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of bilateral internal globus pallidus (GPi) has recently been introduced as a new and beneficial technique to improve motor symptoms in MDS. METHODS: We report three proven genetically MDS cases with successful response to DBS, and their clinical evolution over years. RESULTS: DBS improves significantly the Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale and Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale in all three patients. This improvement is sustained over the years and no major adverse events were recorded. DBS stimulation parameters employed are justified and compared with cases reported throughout the literature. DISCUSSION: DBS of bilateral GPi is an effective and safe therapy to be considered in MDS refractory cases. Careful neuropsychological evaluation is essential inside the presurgery planning. Correct location of the DBS electrodes and individualized selection of stimulation parameters in each case are the main determinants of the best clinical response.

[Unilateral thalamotomy with high intensity focal ultrasound in patients with refractory essential tremor: a comparative study between patients under and over 70 years of age]. / Talamotomía unilateral con ultrasonidos focales de alta intensidad en pacientes con temblor esencial refractario: un estudio comparativo entre pacientes menores y mayores de 70 años.

INTRODUCTION: High intensity focal ultrasound (HIFU) thalamotomy is a novel treatment for refractory tremor. This study aims to compare the reduction in tremor intensity and adverse effects of treatment between patients younger and older than 70 years of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All the patients with refractory essential tremor treated with HIFU between March 2021 and March 2023 were included consecutively. Various demographic and clinical variables were analysed, including age and the items on the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). Cerebral vascular pathology was quantified using the Fazekas scale. Outcomes and adverse effects were compared between the patients aged 70 years or younger, and those older than 70 years. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included, and 50 of them were over 70 years old. Prior to treatment, the CRST A + B score was 20.4 ± 5.7 among those under 70 years of age, and 23.3 ± 5.1 in those older (p = 0.013). At six months after treatment, the mean was 3.8 ± 5.1 and 4.8 ± 4.5, respectively (p = 0.314). We found no significant differences in the CRST C score (2.8 ± 4.1 and 3.5 ± 4.8, p = 0.442). There were also no significant differences between the patients with vascular pathology (Fazekas = 1) and those without (4.6 ± 7.3 and 4.3 ± 4, p = 0.832). There were no differences in the presence of adverse effects between the groups based on age and vascular pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to traditional opinion, older patients do not have a poorer response or a higher rate of adverse effects after HIFU treatment.

TITLE: Talamotomía unilateral con ultrasonidos focales de alta intensidad en pacientes con temblor esencial refractario: un estudio comparativo entre pacientes menores y mayores de 70 años.Introducción. La talamotomía con ultrasonidos focales de alta intensidad (HIFU) es un tratamiento novedoso para el temblor refractario. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar la reducción en la intensidad del temblor y los efectos adversos del tratamiento entre pacientes menores y mayores de 70 años. Pacientes y métodos. Se incluyó consecutivamente a todos los pacientes con temblor esencial refractario tratados con HIFU entre marzo de 2021 y marzo de 2023. Se analizaron diferentes variables demográficas y clínicas, incluyendo la edad y los apartados de la Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). Se cuantificó la patología vascular cerebral mediante la escala de Fazekas. Se compararon los resultados y los efectos adversos entre los grupos de edad de 70 años o menos y de más de 70 años. Resultados. Se incluyó a 90 pacientes, 50 de ellos de más de 70 años. Previamente al tratamiento, la CRST A + B era de 20,4 ± 5,7 en los menores de 70 años y de 23,3 ± 5,1 en los mayores (p = 0,013). A los seis meses tras el tratamiento, la media fue de 3,8 ± 5,1 y 4,8 ± 4,5, respectivamente (p = 0,314). No hallamos diferencias significativas en la CRST C (2,8 ± 4,1 y 3,5 ± 4,8, p = 0,442). Tampoco hubo diferencias significativas entre pacientes con patología vascular (Fazekas = 1) y sin ella (4,6 ± 7,3 y 4,3 ± 4, p = 0,832). No hubo diferencias en la presencia de efectos adversos entre los grupos de edad y de patología vascular. Conclusiones. En contra de lo tradicionalmente concebido, los pacientes de mayor edad no tienen una peor respuesta ni una mayor tasa de efectos adversos tras el tratamiento con HIFU.

Progression and treatment of a series of patients with advanced LRRK2-associated Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: LRRK2 mutations have traditionally been associated with a benign phenotype of Parkinson's disease (PD). Favourable responses to deep brain stimulation (DBS) are reported in the advanced phase. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics and progression of 13 patients with LRRK2-associated PD (13 with G2019S and 1 with I1371V). Nine patients were in the advanced phase, with a mean progression time of 7.2 years before reaching this phase. RESULTS: Seven patients underwent bilateral subthalamic DBS implantation, and 2 received infusion treatment. Patients with mutation G2019S responded excellently to DBS, with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) II and III scores improving by 80% at 6 months. This response was sustained over time. The patient with mutation I1371V had a severe phenotype of the disease, and presented a moderate response to DBS. Patients with advanced LRRK2-associated PD showed predominantly frontal cognitive involvement, with significant language impairment. CONCLUSIONS: In these patients, progression was faster in the advanced stage of the disease. We emphasise the suitability of subthalamic DBS in the management of these patients.

[Subthalamic deep brain stimulation in a case of idiopathic Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia]. / Estimulación cerebral profunda subtalámica en un caso de enfermedad de Parkinson idiopática y esquizofrenia.

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) and schizophrenia can coexist. Antipsychotics block striatal D2 receptors, which inevitably aggravates the manifestations of PD. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a male patient with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, with poor tolerance to minimal doses of levodopa, who underwent a dramatic improvement after bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS-STN). DBS-STN was taken into consideration here, due to the severity of this particular case, as the only possible way to achieve motor improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of idiopathic PD was confirmed despite antidopaminergic treatment. DBS-STN can be considered a treatment option for disabling manifestations of PD, provided that a careful selection of patients is carried out..

TITLE: Estimulación cerebral profunda subtalámica en un caso de enfermedad de Parkinson idiopática y esquizofrenia.Introducción. La enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) y la esquizofrenia pueden coexistir. Los antipsicóticos bloquean los receptores D2 estriados, lo que inevitablemente agrava las manifestaciones de la EP. Caso clínico. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con enfermedad de Parkinson idiopática y esquizofrenia, con pobre tolerancia a dosis mínimas de levodopa, que presentó una gran mejoría tras la estimulación cerebral profunda subtalámica bilateral (ECP-NST). La ECP-NST se consideró aquí, debido a la gravedad de este caso particular, como la única posibilidad de lograr una mejoría motora. Conclusiones. El diagnóstico de EP idiopática se confirmó pese al tratamiento antidopaminérgico. La ECP-NST puede considerarse como una opción de tratamiento para las manifestaciones de la EP invalidantes, siempre y cuando la selección del paciente sea cuidadosa.

Clinical utility of a personalized and long-term monitoring device for Parkinson's disease in a real clinical practice setting: An expert opinion survey on STAT-ON™.

BACKGROUND: STAT-ON™ is an objective tool that registers ON-OFF fluctuations making possible to know the state of the patient at every moment of the day in normal life. Our aim was to analyze the opinion of different Parkinson's disease experts about the STAT-ON™ tool after using the device in a real clinical practice setting (RCPS). METHODS: STAT-ON™ was provided by the Company Sense4Care to Spanish neurologists for using it in a RCPS. Each neurologist had the device for at least three months and could use it in PD patients at his/her own discretion. In February 2020, a survey with 30 questions was sent to all participants. RESULTS: Two thirds of neurologists (53.8% females; mean age 44.9±9 years old) worked in a Movement Disorders Unit, the average experience in PD was 16±6.9 years, and 40.7% of them had previously used other devices. A total of 119 evaluations were performed in 114 patients (range 2-9 by neurologist; mean 4.5±2.3). STAT-ON™ was considered "quite" to "very useful" by 74% of the neurologists with an overall opinion of 6.9±1.7 (0, worst; 10, best). STAT-ON™ was considered better than diaries by 70.3% of neurologists and a useful tool for the identification of patients with advanced PD by 81.5%. Proper identification of freezing of gait episodes and falls were frequent limitations reported. CONCLUSION: STAT-ON™ could be a useful device for using in PD patients in clinical practice.

[Apomorphine and frontal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease]. / Apomorfina y disfunción frontal en la enfermedad de Parkinson.

INTRODUCTION: Dysexecutive disorder and apathy are characteristic symptoms of frontal dysfunction linked to Parkinson's disease. The effect of continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion is not known in detail. DEVELOPMENT: A search for the most relevant studies published to date in this field was carried out, along with their analysis. Apomorphine achieves improvements in tests that measure tasks such as planning, attention, verbal fluency and apathy. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its distinctive pharmacological profile, with enhanced activity on D1-type dopaminergic receptors, apomorphine may have beneficial effects on the frontal dysfunction produced by the disease.

TITLE: Apomorfina y disfunción frontal en la enfermedad de Parkinson.Introducción. El trastorno disejecutivo y la apatía son síntomas característicos de la disfunción frontal ligada a la enfermedad de Parkinson. El efecto de la infusión continua subcutánea de apomorfina en la disfunción frontal no se conoce con detalle. Desarrollo. Se ha realizado una búsqueda y análisis de los trabajos publicados más relevantes en este campo. La apomorfina logra mejorías en las pruebas que miden tareas como la planificación, la atención, la fluencia verbal y la apatía. Conclusiones. Debido a su perfil farmacológico distintivo, con mayor actividad sobre los receptores dopaminérgicos de tipo D1, la apomorfina puede resultar beneficiosa en la disfunción frontal de la enfermedad.

Progression and treatment of a series of patients with advanced LRRK2-associated Parkinson's disease. / Evolución y tratamiento de la fase avanzada de una serie de pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson LRRK2.

INTRODUCTION: LRRK2 mutations have traditionally been associated with a benign phenotype of Parkinson's disease (PD). Favourable responses to deep brain stimulation (DBS) are reported in the advanced phase. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics and progression of 13 patients with LRRK2-associated PD (13 with G2019S and one with I1371 V). Nine patients were in the advanced phase, with a mean progression time of 7.2 years before reaching this phase. RESULTS: Seven patients underwent bilateral subthalamic DBS implantation, and two received infusion treatment. Patients with mutation G2019S responded excellently to DBS, with Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) II and III scores improving by 80% at six months. This response was sustained over time. The patient with mutation I1371 V had a severe phenotype of the disease, and presented a moderate response to DBS. Patients with advanced LRRK2-associated PD showed predominantly frontal cognitive involvement, with significant language impairment. CONCLUSIONS: In these patients, progression was faster in the advanced stage of the disease. We emphasise the suitability of subthalamic DBS in the management of these patients.

Clinical utility of a personalized and long-term monitoring device for Parkinson's disease in a real clinical practice setting: An expert opinion survey on STAT-ON™.

BACKGROUND: STAT-ON™ is an objective tool that registers ON-OFF fluctuations making possible to know the state of the patient at every moment of the day in normal life. Our aim was to analyze the opinion of different Parkinson's disease experts about the STAT-ON™ tool after using the device in a real clinical practice setting (RCPS). METHODS: STAT-ON™ was provided by the Company Sense4Care to Spanish neurologists for using it in a RCPS. Each neurologist had the device for at least three months and could use it in PD patients at his/her own discretion. In February 2020, a survey with 30 questions was sent to all participants. RESULTS: Two thirds of neurologists (53.8% females; mean age 44.9±9 years old) worked in a Movement Disorders Unit, the average experience in PD was 16±6.9 years, and 40.7% of them had previously used other devices. A total of 119 evaluations were performed in 114 patients (range 2-9 by neurologist; mean 4.5±2.3). STAT-ON™ was considered "quite" to "very useful" by 74% of the neurologists with an overall opinion of 6.9±1.7 (0, worst; 10, best). STAT-ON™ was considered better than diaries by 70.3% of neurologists and a useful tool for the identification of patients with advanced PD by 81.5%. Proper identification of freezing of gait episodes and falls were frequent limitations reported. CONCLUSION: STAT-ON™ could be a useful device for using in PD patients in clinical practice.

[Outpatient establishment and initial management of treatment with intraduodenal levodopa-carbidopa infusion in advanced Parkinson's disease]. / Instauracion ambulatoria y manejo inicial del tratamiento con infusion intraduodenal de levodopa-carbidopa en la enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment with intraduodenal levodopa-carbidopa infusion is one of the three therapies currently available for advanced Parkinson's disease. It optimizes the benefit of antiparkinsonian treatment by counteracting the negative effect of erratic gastric emptying on the absorption of oral levodopa. The purpose is to describe our outpatient protocol of treatment establishment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our unit we have implemented a protocol for the treatment with intradoudenal levodopa-carbidopa infusion without admission based on the development of a multidisciplinary circuit among the Neurology Service, the Digestive Endoscopy Unit and the Home Hospitalization Unit. RESULTS: Over one and a half year, we treated five patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. All of them remain on the medication and no significant side effect has taken place. CONCLUSION: The outpatient onset install of this treatment saves costs and avoids the negative impact of admission on the patient with advanced Parkinson's disease, in the same way that favors their adaptation and tolerability to it.

TITLE: Instauracion ambulatoria y manejo inicial del tratamiento con infusion intraduodenal de levodopa-carbidopa en la enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada.Introduccion. El tratamiento con infusion intraduodenal de levodopa-carbidopa es una de las tres terapias de que disponemos en la actualidad en la enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada. Optimiza el beneficio del tratamiento antiparkinsoniano al contrarrestar el efecto negativo que provoca el vaciado gastrico erratico sobre la absorcion de la levodopa oral. El objetivo es describir nuestro protocolo de instauracion del tratamiento de modo ambulatorio. Pacientes y metodos. En nuestra unidad hemos implementado un protocolo de instauracion del tratamiento con infusion continua de levodopa-carbidopa intestinal sin necesidad de ingreso hospitalario gracias al desarrollo de un circuito multidisciplinar entre el propio servicio de neurologia, la unidad de endoscopia digestiva y la unidad de hospitalizacion a domicilio. Resultados. En año y medio se trato a cinco pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada. Todos ellos continuan con el tratamiento y no han tenido complicaciones significativas. Conclusion. La instauracion ambulatoria del tratamiento ahorra costes y evita el impacto negativo del ingreso en el paciente con enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada, de la misma manera que favorece su adaptacion y tolerancia a aquel.

[Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy associated with treatment using intraduodenal infusion of levodopa-carbidopa]. / Polirradiculoneuropatia desmielinizante inflamatoria cronica asociada al tratamiento con infusion intraduodenal de levodopa-carbidopa.

TITLE: Polirradiculoneuropatia desmielinizante inflamatoria cronica asociada al tratamiento con infusion intraduodenal de levodopa-carbidopa.