Apomorphine is a potent
dopaminergic agonist that quickly and predictably reverts parkinsonian
symptomatology . In 32
patients (18
male )
aged 45 to 83 years old (22 with idiopathic
parkinsonism and 10 with
parkinsonism of other causes), the dopaminergic response to
apomorphine after
domperidone administration was assessed using the digital skill test and Webster scale. Twenty
patients with idiopathic
parkinsonism and 1 with
parkinsonism of other causes had a positive response to
apomorphine . In 44 percent
apomorphine had
adverse effects . All
patients with idiopathic
parkinsonism and the only
patient with
parkinsonism of other causes with a positive
apomorphine test had a good response to
levodopa therapy . It is concluded that
apomorphine test has a 95 percent positive value for idiopathic
parkinsonism and is useful diagnostic tool