Continuous jejunal levodopa infusion improves motor function and reduces fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease

Long-term levodopa treatment in patients with Parkinson's disease can induce severe motor fluctuations such as wearing-off, sudden-off and hyperkinesia. Since motor fluctuations are, at least in part, due to the pulsatile administration of levodopa, methods to obtain more constant levodopa levels are highly promising. Since October 2004 continuous jejunal levodopa infusion using Duodopa, a stable gel suspension of levodopa/carbidopa, is available in several European countries. Here we report on three further Parkinsonian patients from our department, who received Duodopa treatment in 2006. All three patients had…