[Clinical variants of pain syndromes in patients with Parkinson's disease].

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by well-known motor symptoms as well as by non-motor symptoms including pain syndrome which remains poorly understood and often ignored by physicians. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of chronic pain syndrome and develop approaches to its diagnosis, treatment and systematization. Authors examined 130 patients with PD. Chronic pain was found in 68 (52%) patients. In 51 (75%) patients, pain was located on the side of more severe motor symptoms. The main types of pain in PD were identified related to regional changes in muscle tone, motor fluctuations and primary ("central" pain). More severe symptoms of parkinsonism, cognitive and affective disorders as well as lower pain threshold were identified in patients with pain compared to those without pain. A negative impact of pain on quality of life was shown. The positive effect of dopaminergic therapy on the severity of pain was found in one-third of patients with PD. Criteria for the association of pain with PD and approaches to the correction of different types of pain are discussed.

[The clinical-pharmacoeconomic study of efficacy of stalevo in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations].

An open randomized study of pharmacoeconomic efficacy of stalevo in patients with Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations was conducted. The results of the study revealed that the drug substantially reduced motor deficit, increased the "on"-period, decreased the duration and severity of the "off" period, improved the daily activity and quality of life of patients compared to standard therapy with an additional dosage of levodopa/DDC inhibitor. Despite the increase in cost, the use of stalevo in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations is cost-effective in long-term (already after two years) management of patients.