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E-MOVE reports from the 12th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and 
Movement Disorders, sponsored by the Movement Disorders Society and held in 
Chicago June 22-26, 2008. Abstract numbers and pages refer to abstracts 
published in Movement Disorders 2008;23(suppl 1).

Deep brain stimulation is superior to best medical therapy for Parkinson's 
disease for at least 6 months, although the risk of adverse events from 
surgery is much higher, according to this randomized trial.

Two hundred fifty-five patients were randomized to best medical therapy (BMT) 
or DBS of the STN or GPi (also chosen randomly). Patients had a mean age of 
63, were a mean of 12 years post-diagnosis, and were 80% male. Assessments 
included patient diaries, blinded UPDRS motor ratings, and quality of life 
with the PDQ-39.

At six months, patients receiving DBS had 5.1 hours increased on time, versus 
no change with BMT. Off-medication motor function was 36% improved with DBS, 
versus 4% with BMT. DBS patients had significantly better quality of life 
compared to BMT for all aspects of the PDQ-39 except social support. Serious 
adverse events occurred in 49 DBS patients, and 15 BMT patients, making the 
incidence risk ratio 3.8 for DBS vs. BMT.

Funding was provided by US government agencies and by Medtronic.

Best medical therapy vs. deep brain stimulation for PD: Six month result from 
a multi-site randomized trial
FM Weaver, VA CSP #468/NINDS Study Group
597;S197

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