PD Flashcards
What are the 3 cardinal sign of PD?
1) Tremor
2) Akinesia/ Bradykinesia
3) Rigidity
How is PD diagnosed?
Based on clinical signs, physical examination, history, where 2 out of 3 cardinal signs must be present
Lab test and imaging are used to rule out other causes, not used for diagnosis
For idiopathic PD, what are some of the features at initial presentation?
1) Asymmetric
2) Positive response to levodopa or apomorphine
3) Postural instability not present
4) Less rapid progression
5) Autonomic dysfunction not present
What are some of the activities of daily living (ADLs) affected by PD?
1) Mobility
2) Feeding self
3) Grooming, personal hygiene
4) Toileting
5) Showering/Bathing
6) Continence (Bowel and Urinary)
What are some of the risk associated with PD?
1) Choking
2) Pneumonia
3) Falls
What are some of the causes of PD?
1) Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra
2) Age-related loss of neurons
3) Environmental toxins/ insults
4) Genetics
How do you “measure” severity of PD?
Via Hoehn and Yahr staging
Describe the stages of H&Y scale
1 - Symptoms on one side
2 - Bilateral symptoms, no balance impairment
3 - Impaired postural reflexes, physically independent
4 - Severe disability, but still able to stand and walk unassisted
5 - Wheelchair bound or bedridden
What does H&Y scale assess?
The severity of the motor symptoms. Higher stage = More motor impairment
If a patient is on PD treatment, what should be assessed?
The H&Y stage when a person is in the “on” treatment stage, and also in the “off” treatment stage
What are some of the non motor symptoms associated with PD?
1) Cognitive impairment - Dementia
2) Psychiatric symptoms - Psychosis
3) Autonomic dysfunction - Constipation, salivation, orthostatic hypotension, N/V
4) Fatigue
At clinical onset of PD, the patient has already lost ___ of functioning neuron?
80%
What are the features observed in early/ young onset PD?
1) Lesser cognitive decline
2) Earlier motor complication
3) Dystonia (common initial presentation)
4) Slower disease progression
Which drug class in preferred in early/young onset PD?
Dopamine agonist > Levodopa
What are the goals of PD treatment?
1) Manage symptoms
2) Maintain function and autonomy
3) NOT to replace dopamine or cure PD
True or false: No treatment of PD has even been shown to be neuroprotective
True
What are the non-pharmacological options for treatment of PD?
1) Physical therapy (Stretching, posture, walking)
2) Occupational Therapy (Mobility aids, home and workplace safety)
3) Surgery
4) Speech and swallowing
Which drugs increase central dopamine and dopamine transmission?
1) Levodopa + DCI
2) Dopamine agonist
3) MAO B inhibitors
4) COMT inhibitors
Which drugs correct imbalance in other pathways
1) Anticholinergics
2) NMDA antagonist
What are the examples of DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors?
1) Carbidopa
2) Benserazide
Dopamine in blood causes what peripheral SEs?
1) Postural hypotension
2) N/V
What does MAO-B do?
Metabolize dopamine in the CNS
What is Levodopa effective in treating?
Most effective drug in treatment of cardinal symptoms, especially bradykinesia and rigidity
What is Levodopa not effective in treating?
Less effective in treatment of speech, postural reflex and gait disturbances
What can’t dopamine be used in the treatment of PD?
Dopamine can’t pass the BBB
Peripheral conversion of Levodopa to dopamine is catalysed by?
1) COMT
2) Dopa carboxylase
3) MAO
Where is levodopa absorbed at?
Proximal part of small intestine
What factor affected the absorption of Levodopa?
Absorption is decreased with high fat or high protein meal. Take 2-4 hours apart.
Do we remove protein from a PD patient’s diet?
No, PD patients must still take a high protein diet as PD causes muscle atrophy.
Do DCI cross the BBB?
No
How much DCI is needed to saturate dopa carboxylase?
75-100 mg daily
What is the DCI: Levodopa ratio is Simenet and Madopar?
Simenet - 1:4 or 1:10
Madopar - 1: 4
What is the DCI present in Simenet and Madopar?
Simenet - Carbidopa
Madopar - Benserazide
What are the adverse effects of Levodopa?
1) N/V
2) Orthostatic hypotension
3) Drowsiness
4) Hallucination, psychosis
5) Dyskinesias (3-5 years onset after initiating tx)
What are some of the motor complications with Levodopa?
1) “On-off” phenomenon
2) ‘Wearing off’ effect
3) Dyskinesias
Describe the ‘Wearing off’ effect
Effects of Levodopa wanes before the end of the dosing interval.
Shortened ‘on’ time as duration of treatment progresses
Associated with disease progression
How do you manage the ‘wearing off’ effect?
1) Modify times of administration
2) Using modified-release preparation at appropriate times
What are some of the symptoms of Levodopa induced dyskinesia?
1) Dyskinesia are involuntary and uncontrollable
2) Twitching, jerking
3) Peak dose dyskinesia
4) Dystonia
How do you manage Levodopa induced dyskinesia?
Add amantadine, or replace specific dose with modified-release levodopa
What is the relation with PD progression and levodopa dose?
As PD progresses, response threshold increases while dyskinesia threshold decreases. Need more levodopa to bring serum concentration up to a range where it will elicit a response. However, higher dose = increase dyskinesia risk
What causes changes in levodopa response overtime?
Changes in pre and post synaptic receptors