Use of apomorphine in Parkinson's disease.

Author(s): Stocchi F

Affiliation(s): Department of Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy. fabrizio.stocchi@sanraffaele.it

Publication date & source: 2008-12, Neurol Sci., 29 Suppl 5:S383-6.

Publication type: Review

In the parkinsonian patient, the striatal levels of dopamine strictly depend on peripheral levodopa levels; short half-life of levodopa is responsible for plasmatic level fluctuations, which are consistent with a pulsatile receptor stimulation of the striatal system. This sort of non-physiologic stimulation induces a change of the condition of post-synaptic neurons, which is considered responsible for the fluctuations of clinical response. In this respect, apomorphine administration, via infusion pump, may be a good therapeutic option, aimed at obtaining continuous receptor stimulation, assisting in the management of motor fluctuations in the advanced phase of the disease.