Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · Mar 2014
Long-term levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel in advanced Parkinson's disease.
The short-term benefits of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) are well documented, but the long-term benefits are still uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the motor and cognitive outcome of LCIG treatment in advanced PD after a follow-up period of at least 24 months. We assessed 29 patients with advanced PD who started LCIG infusion at our centre between 2007 and 2013. ⋯ There were four cases of peripheral neuropathy (PN), 2 of which were considered serious. Our data confirm that LCIG is beneficial in the long-term treatment of advanced PD patients despite a decline in cognitive functions in a subgroup of patients, probably due to disease progression. PN in patients with LCIG may be more frequent than the published date suggest.
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Journal of neurology · Mar 2014
Fetal growth restriction and birth defects with newer and older antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
The primary aim of this study was to assess the risks of fetal growth restriction and birth defects in children exposed prenatally to newer and older antiepileptic drugs, using an unselected epilepsy cohort. Deliveries recorded in the compulsory Medical Birth Registry of Norway 1999-2011 formed the study population. All 2,600 children exposed to antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy were compared to all 771,412 unexposed children born to women without epilepsy. ⋯ In conclusion, topiramate was associated with a substantial risk of fetal growth restriction, and possibly an increased malformation rate. Other newer-generation antiepileptic drugs had a low malformation rate. Valproate monotherapy had a significant malformation risk, especially in repeated pregnancies.