'Apuntes en Neurología': una síntesis de la evidencia en trastornos neurológicos comunes paroxísticos y en trastornos neurodegenerativos / 'Apuntes en Neurología' (Notes in Neurology): a synthesis of the evidence on common paroxysmal neurological disorders and on neurodegenerative disorders

Apuntes en Neurología' es una iniciativa en la cual líderes de primera línea nacional e internacional, con amplio reconocimiento académico, se reunieron para sintetizar los aspectos clínicos más destacables dentro de su área de interés y acercar las novedades en una lengua más próxima. Entender los factores que afectan al inicio y progresión de cualquier enfermedad neurológica a través de una revisión es importante para el desarrollo de estrategias en pro de reducir la carga de estas enfermedades, y conocer los aspectos clínicos es esencial para poder resolver los problemas de la practica clínica diaria. Los datos aquí recogidos reflejan el peso de la evidencia y algunos de ellos anticipan un futuro prometedor en el tratamiento de estas enfermedades. Esta primera edición se centra en trastornos neurológicos comunes paroxísticos como la migraña, la epilepsia y las alteraciones del sueño, y en trastornos neurodegenerativos como la enfermedad de Parkinson y el deterioro cognitivo. Se trata de patologías claramente diferentes, si bien algunas de ellas, como la migraña y la epilepsia, pueden compartir sintomatología clínica. Los trastornos del sueño, por su parte, son manifestaciones importantes de enfermedades neurodegenerativas que, en ocasiones, son clínicamente evidentes mucho antes del inicio de otros síntomas neurológicos. Tras recordar la fisiopatología y el diagnostico, la revisión actual se centra en acercar los principales avances en cinco de las principales enfermedades neurológicas

Introduction. 'Apuntes en Neurologia' is an initiative in which prominent national and international leaders, with broad academic recognition, came together to synthesise the most outstanding clinical aspects within their area of interest and to discuss the latest developments in a more accessible language. Understanding the factors that affect the onset and progression of any neurological disease through a review is important to be able to develop strategies to reduce the burden of these diseases. Moreover, knowledge of the clinical aspects is essential to solve the problems of daily clinical practice. The data collected here reflect the weight of evidence and some of them anticipate a promising future in the treatment of these diseases. This first edition focuses on common paroxysmal neurological disorders such as migraine, epilepsy and sleep disorders, as well as neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson' disease and cognitive impairment. These are clearly different pathologies, although some of them such as migraine and epilepsy, may share clinical symptoms. Sleep disorders, however, are important manifestations of neurodegenerative diseases that are sometimes clinically apparent long before the onset of other neurological symptoms. After recalling pathophysiology and diagnosis, the current review focuses on bringing together the main advances in five of the major neurological diseases

Peripheral neuropathy in Parkinson's disease: levodopa exposure and implications for duodenal delivery.

In advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, continuous intra-duodenal infusion of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) is an established approach in the management of motor complications that cannot be further improved by conventional oral therapy. In general, tolerability of LCIG has resembled that of oral dopaminergic therapy; however, cases of symptomatic peripheral neuropathy (PN), sometimes severe, have been reported in patients receiving LCIG. Cases are generally a sensorimotor polyneuropathy with both subacute and chronic onsets, often associated with vitamin B12 and/or B6 deficiency. Rare cases clinically resemble Guillain-Barré syndrome. In the absence of prospectively collected data on possible associations between LCIG and PN, it is prudent to explore potential mechanisms that may explain a possible relationship. The PN may be linked to use of high-dose levodopa, promoting high levels of homocysteine and methylmalonic acid or reduced absorption of vitamins essential for homocysteine metabolism. Cases of LCIG-associated PN often have responded to vitamin supplementation without need for LCIG cessation, although LCIG cessation is sometimes necessary. It may be advisable to monitor vitamin B12/B6 status before and after patients start LCIG and be vigilant for signs of PN. Prospective, large-scale, long-term studies are needed to clarify whether vitamin supplementation and routine use of a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor may help prevent PN in LCIG recipients and whether these measures should be routine practice in patients with PD on high-dose oral levodopa.

Instauración y seguimiento de la infusión continua de apomorfina / No disponible

La apomorfina en infusión continua es un tratamiento establecido para la enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada desde hace más de dos décadas. En este artículo revisamos los diversos métodos para la instauración de dicho tratamiento y proponemos una metodología de consenso para el inicio, así como para la modificación del tratamiento previo. Con todo ello se pretende homogeneizar y reducir la variabilidad de la práctica clínica (AU)

Continuous apomorphine infusion has been an established treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease for over two decades. This article reviews the different methods for starting treatment and propose a consensus methodology for it, as well as for the modification of prior treatment, in order to standardize and reduce the variability of clinical practice (AU)

Levodopa en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson: mitos y realidades / Levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease: myths and realties

Durante los últimos años hemos sido testigos de una utilización preferente de agonistas dopaminérgicos (AD) como tratamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), con la intención de retrasar en lo posible el desarrollo de fluctuaciones y discinesias. Sin embargo, la levodopa continúa siendo el fármaco antiparkinsoniano más eficaz y, probablemente, el que mejora un mayor número de síntomas de la enfermedad. En este artículo se ha realizado una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura por parte de un grupo de neurólogos expertos y miembros del Grupo de Trastornos del Movimiento de la Sociedad Española de Neurología sobre los beneficios y riesgos del tratamiento con levodopa en pacientes con EP. La principal conclusión de este artículo es que la levodopa continúa siendo el tratamiento más eficaz para la EP. Aunque el riesgo y la incidencia de desarrollar discinesias se mantiene en un nivel menor en el grupo tratado inicialmente con AD, el número de pacientes que desarrollan discinesias incapacitantes es muy bajo en todos los estudios y similar para los AD y la levodopa, y las escalas de calidad de vida son también similares en ambos grupos, lo que cuestiona el impacto que estas complicaciones motoras tienen sobre la calidad de vida de los pacientes con EP. A la vista de estos resultados, deberíamos plantearnos si está justificado privar a los pacientes del buen control de los síntomas que proporciona la levodopa por el temor a que desarrollen discinesias o fluctuaciones motoras leves que no van a mermar su calidad de vida. A ello hay que añadir la posibilidad de que desarrollen efectos secundarios graves, que son más frecuentes con el uso de AD (AU)

In recent years we have witnessed a growing tendency to opt for the use of dopamine agonists (DA) as treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD), with the aim of delaying as far as possible the development of fluctuations and dyskinesias. Yet, levodopa continues to be the most effective antiparkinson drug and is probably the one that improves the greatest number of symptoms of the disease. This article reports on the results of a comprehensive review of the literature dealing with the benefits and risks of levodopa treatment in patients with PD which was conducted by a group of expert neurologists and members of the Spanish Neurology Society’s Movement Disorder Group. The main conclusion reached in this article is that levodopa continues to be the most effective treatment for PD. Although the risk and incidence of developing dyskinesias remains at a lower level in the group initially treated with DA, the number of patients who develop disabling dyskinesias is very low in all the studies and is similar for DA and for levodopa. Scores on the quality of life scales are also similar in the two groups, which casts some doubt on the impact that these motor complications have on the quality of life of patients with PD. In view of these findings, we should consider whether there is any real justification for depriving patients of the good control of their symptoms offered by levodopa owing to the fear of developing dyskinesias or mild motor fluctuations that are not really going to have any negative effect on their quality of life. There is also the possibility of their developing severe side effects, which are more frequent with the use of DA (AU)

[Subcutaneous continuous apomorphine infusion: treatment initiation and follow up]. / Instauración y seguimiento de la infusión continua de apomorfina.

Continuous apomorphine infusion has been an established treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease for over two decades. This article reviews the different methods for starting treatment and propose a consensus methodology for it, as well as for the modification of prior treatment, in order to standardize and reduce the variability of clinical practice.

[Levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: myths and realties]. / Levodopa en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson: mitos y realidades.

In recent years we have witnessed a growing tendency to opt for the use of dopamine agonists (DA) as treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), with the aim of delaying as far as possible the development of fluctuations and dyskinesias. Yet, levodopa continues to be the most effective antiparkinson drug and is probably the one that improves the greatest number of symptoms of the disease. This article reports on the results of a comprehensive review of the literature dealing with the benefits and risks of levodopa treatment in patients with PD which was conducted by a group of expert neurologists and members of the Spanish Neurology Society's Movement Disorder Group. The main conclusion reached in this article is that levodopa continues to be the most effective treatment for PD. Although the risk and incidence of developing dyskinesias remains at a lower level in the group initially treated with DA, the number of patients who develop disabling dyskinesias is very low in all the studies and is similar for DA and for levodopa. Scores on the quality of life scales are also similar in the two groups, which casts some doubt on the impact that these motor complications have on the quality of life of patients with PD. In view of these findings, we should consider whether there is any real justification for depriving patients of the good control of their symptoms offered by levodopa owing to the fear of developing dyskinesias or mild motor fluctuations that are not really going to have any negative effect on their quality of life. There is also the possibility of their developing severe side effects, which are more frequent with the use of DA.