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>From: WE MOVE <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Alternative Levodopa Administration Strategies (WCN 2001) >Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 17:21:37 -0500 > >E-MOVE reports from the 17th World Congress of Neurology, London, June >17-22. Poster and Platform session numbers refer to those in the abstract >book, published in Journal of the Neurological Sciences 2001;187 >(supplement 1). > >1. Continuous intestinal infusion of Duodopa--the optimal delivery of >levodopa in advanced Parkinson's disease? >D Nyholm, H Askmark, T Knutson, C Gomes-Trolin, C Nystrom, SM Aquilonius >P0676 > >Intestinal infusion of levodopa stabilizes plasma levels of levodopa and >reduces motor complications, according to this study. Twelve patients were >randomized to receive levodopa, administered either orally or by a >computer-controlled minipump via nasoduodenal tube, followed by crossover >to the other administration method. > >Over 3 weeks of treatment, intraindividual variation of plasma levodopa >averaged 34% for oral delivery, and 14% for infusion delivery. On time >without dyskinesias increased from 61% to 80% with infusion, and off time >decreased from 25% to 12%. The authors note that the nasoduodenal tube is >replaced by percutaneous gastrostomy tube in clinical practice. > > >2. Do fava beans, a natural source of levodopa for parkinsonian patients, >restore dopaminergic transmission? >BP Bejjani, R Rahme, M Jabr >P0669 > >Fava beans (Vicia faba) provide a source of levodopa that equals the >effectiveness of commercial preparations for amelioration of parkinsonian >symptoms, according to this report. > >After an overnight drug washout, 5 patients with advanced PD received >either their standard levodopa dose plus 50 mg, or boiled fava beans, >followed by crossover treatment within one week. Fava bean dose was >calculated based on a 125 mg levodopa:120 g bean. UPDRS motor scores, >recorded every 15 minutes for 4 hours and rated by a blinded investigator, >indicated equivalence between the two treatments in terms of reduction in >score and induction of dyskinesias. Latency to onset and duration of >effect of fava beans was variable among patients, but with no group >difference between beans and levodopa. > >Funding for E-MOVE meeting reports is provided in part by unrestricted >educational grants from Allergan Inc., Elan Pharmaceuticals, and Pharmacia >Corporation. > >Copyright 2000 WE MOVE >http://www.wemove.org janet paterson: an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit perky, parky . pd: 54/41/37 cd: 54/44/43 tel: 613 256 8340 email: [log in to unmask] . snail mail: 375 Country Street, Apt 301, Almonte, Ontario, Canada, K0A 1A0 . a new voice: the nnnewsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/janet313/ . a new voice: the wwweb site: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn