[Continuous subcutaneous infusion of apomorphine in Parkinson's disease: retrospective analysis of a series of 81 patients]. / Le traitement par apomorphine en perfusion continue sous-cutanée dans la maladie de Parkinson : analyse rétrospective d'une série de 81 patients.

BACKGROUND: Continuous subcutaneous infusion of apomorphine (CAI) has shown efficacy in the treatment of motor fluctuations but its place in the therapeutic arsenal remains poorly defined in terms of indication, acceptability and long-term tolerance. Indeed, few studies have been carried out with a follow-up greater than 12 months. The main objective was to assess the quality of life of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients treated with CAI. We also evaluate the effectiveness on the motor fluctuations, the long-term tolerance of this treatment with its causes of discontinuation and the treatment regimens used. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 81 PD patients treated with CAI between April 2003 and June 2012. Data were collected from medical records. A repeated measures analysis of variance by the linear mixed model was used (significance level: 5%). RESULTS: In August 2012, 27/81 patients were still treated with CAI with a mean duration of 28 months, 46/81 discontinued CAI (9 precociously), and 8 were lost to view. We didn't show improvement in the quality of life nor efficacy of CAI on the UPDRS IV score (P=0.54) and dyskinesia score (P=0.95). The CGI score patient also reflects this result with a majority response suggesting no significant change with CAI. We observed relative good cognitive and psychiatric tolerance. Adverse events were frequent but often benign. The average (±SD) rate of apomorphine was 3.15±1.71 mg/h and the oral dopaminergic treatment was decreased by 37.8%. DISCUSSION: The results are consistent with the literature except for the lack of efficiency on motor fluctuations which may be due to the use of too small doses of apomorphine. This seems to be a leading cause of discontinuation of CAI, especially when it is associated with side effects or important constraints. For better efficiency on motor fluctuations, we recommend the use of apomorphine at higher doses to obtain an optimal continuous dopaminergic stimulation.

[Continuous dopaminergic stimulation by Duodopa in advanced Parkinson's disease: Efficacy and safety]. / Intérêts de la stimulation dopaminergique continue par Duodopa((R)) dans la maladie de Parkinson évoluée : efficacité et tolérance.

INTRODUCTION: When advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients experience motor complications (fluctuations and dyskinesias) despite standard oral treatment, two treatment options are available: deep brain stimulation and subcutaneous apomorphine infusion with respects of indications for each strategy. Continuous intraduodenal infusion of levodopa (Duodopa) via a gastrojejunal tube may be proposed at this stage of the disease and the study of indications and clinical results with Duodopa may develop this new therapeutic alternative. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients with advanced PD (dementia for all and psychiatric disorders for some of them, axial signs) were treated with Duodopa. We evaluated neuropsychological functions, all UPDRS scales, gait and quality-of-life just before Duodopa onset and six months after treatment end. Moreover, we described all adverse events (early and late) and studied daily levodopa doses before and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: We demonstrated an improvement in motor UPDRS (44%), in axial signs (40% for UPDRS part III axial subscore and 12% for gait) and a reduction of fluctuations (37.5%) and in UPDRS part IV dyskinesia (20%). These significant results are observed without any change in the quality-of-life. Adverse events were due to PEG positioning for four patients, the equipment (pump, connection, inner tube) for all patients and levodopa for four patients. Daily levodopa dose had to be increased 13.5%. CONCLUSION: Duodopa can be considered as a new treatment strategy providing significant improvements in motor fluctuations, dyskinesia and severe axial signs. These results were demonstrated in very advanced PD patients, who had been excluded from previous studies, with cognitive disorders and for some of them dopaminergic psychosis well controlled by medications.

Practice of strict glycemic control in critically ill patients.

Blood glucose control aiming at normoglycemia, frequently referred to as "strict glycemic control", decreases mortality and morbidity of critically ill patients. We searched the medical literature for export opinions, surveys, and clinical reports on blood glucose control in intensive care medicine. While strict glycemic control has been recommended standard of care for critically ill patients, the risk of severe hypoglycemia with strict glycemic control is frequently mentioned by experts. Some rationalize this risk, though others strongly point out the high incidence of hypoglycemia to be (one) reason not to perform strict glycemic control. Implementation of strict glycemic control is far from complete in intensive care units across the world. Frequently local guidelines accept higher blood glucose levels than those with strict glycemic control. Only a minority of retrieved manuscripts are on blood glucose regimens with the lower targets as with strict glycemic control. Hypoglycemia certainly is encountered with blood glucose control, in particular with strict glycemic control. Reports show intensive care-nurses can adequately and safely perform strict glycemic control. Implementation of strict glycemic control is far from complete, at least in part because of the feared risks of hypoglycemia. The preference for hyperglycemia over intermittent hypoglycemia is irrational, however, because there is causal evidence of harm for the former but only associative evidence of harm for the latter. For several reasons it is wise to have strict glycemic control being a nurse-based strategy.

[Ischemic stroke revealed by a thunderclap headache: contribution of diffusion-weighted mri sequences]. / Céphalée en coup de tonnerre révélant un infarctus cérébral: intérêt de l'IRM avec séquence de diffusion.

INTRODUCTION: Sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral venous thrombosis and cerebral reversible angiopathies are the main causes of secondary thunderclap headache. Ischemic stroke is rarely revealed by thunderclap headache. CASE REPORT: A 80-year-old woman developed for the first time a thunderclap headache associated with transient distal motor deficit of the right hand. Diffusion-weighted sequences revealed a recent left infarct in a vascular border zone. CONCLUSION: Ischemic stroke is a rare cause of thunderclap headache but practitioners should bear in mind this etiology when the diagnostic work-up is negative. Diffusion-weighted sequences of the brain MRI can provide the diagnosis.