scholarly journals An Investigation into the Use and Meaning of Parkinson’s Disease Clinical Scale Scores

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Renee M. Hendricks ◽  
Mohammad T. Khasawneh

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common, neurodegenerative disorder. It is a chronic, disabling, and progressive disease, and no treatment stops its progression. Rating scales are utilized to quantify PD progression and severity. The most conventional scale is the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and its modified version, Movement Disorder Society- (MDS-) UPDRS. An analytical investigation into the use and meaning of these clinical scale scores was conducted to determine if gaps exist in quantifying disease progression and severity. A series of discrepancies were identified including confusion among patients regarding the score meaning and misuse of the scores among clinicians and researchers to define disease progression. The scales are of an ordinal type and hence the resulting scores are ordinal, not providing a quantifiable progression nor severity level, but a categorical value and survey total. The knowledge that the scores are ordinal and the scales are subjective is mentioned in very limited publications, not the focus of these papers, but a brief introduction and a thoroughly researched, analytical investigation into the scales and scores have not been found. Therefore, the continuous misunderstanding and misuse of these scales and resulting scores warrant a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of these scales and scores to identify the gaps.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Cavaco ◽  
Alexandra Gonçalves ◽  
Alexandre Mendes ◽  
Nuno Vila-Chã ◽  
Inês Moreira ◽  
...  

Introduction. A possible association between olfactory dysfunction and Parkinson’s disease (PD) severity has been a topic of contention for the past 40 years. Conflicting reports may be partially explained by procedural differences in olfactory assessment and motor symptom evaluation.Methods. One hundred and sixty-six nondemented PD patients performed the Brief-Smell Identification Test and test scores below the estimated 20th percentile as a function of sex, age, and education (i.e., 80% specificity) were considered demographically abnormal. Patients underwent motor examination after 12 h without antiparkinsonian medication.Results. Eighty-two percent of PD patients had abnormal olfaction. Abnormal performance on the Brief-Smell Identification Test was associated with higher disease severity (i.e., Hoehn and Yahr, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-III, Freezing of Gait questionnaire, and levodopa equivalent dose), even when disease duration was taken into account.Conclusions. Abnormal olfaction in PD is associated with increased severity and faster disease progression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo ◽  
Marlene Alonso-Juarez ◽  
Robert Fekete

Parkinson's disease is neurodegenerative disorder with an initial robust response to levodopa. As the disease progresses, patients frequently develop dyskinesia and motor fluctuations, which are sometimes resistant to pharmacological therapy. In recent years, abnormalities in gut microbiota have been identified in these patients with a possible role in motor manifestations. Dysbiosis may reduce levodopa absorption leading to delayed “On” or “no-On” states. Among 84 consecutive patients with PD, we selected 14 with levodopa-induced dyskinesia and motor fluctuations with a Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part IV ≥ 8 points following a trial of pharmacological adjustment 2–3 months prior to study enrollment or adjustments in deep brain stimulation therapy. Patients received treatment with sodium phosphate enema followed by oral rifaximin and polyethylene glycol for 7 and 10 days, respectively. Evaluations between 14 to 21 days after starting treatment showed improvement in MDS-UPDRS-IV (P = 0.001), including duration (P = 0.001) and severity of dyskinesia (P = 0.003); duration of medication “Off”-state (P = 0.004); functional impact of motor fluctuations (P = 0.047) and complexity of motor fluctuations (P = 0.031); no statistical improvement was observed in “Off” dystonia (P = 0.109) and total motor scores (P = 0.430). Marked to moderate improvement in dyskinesia was observed in 57% of cases with blinded evaluation of videos. About 80% of patients perceived moderate to robust improvement at follow-up. A therapeutic strategy aimed at decontamination of intestines showed benefit in motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. Further studies should confirm and clarify the mechanism of improvement observed in these patients.


Neurology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (17) ◽  
pp. 1789-1794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Leehey ◽  
Sheng Luo ◽  
Saloni Sharma ◽  
Anne-Marie A. Wills ◽  
Jacquelyn L. Bainbridge ◽  
...  

Objective:To explore the association between metabolic syndrome and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and, secondarily, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).Methods:This is a secondary analysis of data from 1,022 of 1,741 participants of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Exploratory Clinical Trials in Parkinson Disease Long-Term Study 1, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of creatine. Participants were categorized as having or not having metabolic syndrome on the basis of modified criteria from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Those who had the same metabolic syndrome status at consecutive annual visits were included. The change in UPDRS and SDMT scores from randomization to 3 years was compared in participants with and without metabolic syndrome.Results:Participants with metabolic syndrome (n = 396) compared to those without (n = 626) were older (mean [SD] 63.9 [8.1] vs 59.9 [9.4] years; p < 0.0001), were more likely to be male (75.3% vs 57.0%; p < 0.0001), and had a higher mean uric acid level (men 5.7 [1.3] vs 5.3 [1.1] mg/dL, women 4.9 [1.3] vs 3.9 [0.9] mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Participants with metabolic syndrome experienced an additional 0.6- (0.2) unit annual increase in total UPDRS (p = 0.02) and 0.5- (0.2) unit increase in motor UPDRS (p = 0.01) scores compared with participants without metabolic syndrome. There was no difference in the change in SDMT scores.Conclusions:Persons with Parkinson disease meeting modified criteria for metabolic syndrome experienced a greater increase in total UPDRS scores over time, mainly as a result of increases in motor scores, compared to those who did not. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT00449865.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-314
Author(s):  
Khalid Mahmood ◽  
Omair Afzal Ali ◽  
Adeeb-ul- Hassan ◽  
Imran Ali

Background & Objective:  Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common Neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. There are several surgical procedures for advanced PD, but amongst all deep brain stimulation has proven to be safest and effective. The objective of this study was to see the outcome of DBS for the treatment of PD in terms of improvement in MDS UPDRS over 5 years. Material and Methods:  44 patients were included in study from Oct 2014 to Sep 2019. History, examination was carried out, and preoperative MDS-UPDRS (Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale) was recorded. Postoperative improvement in MDS-UPDRS score was assessed at first Programming, 2nd week, and 6th week and at 3rd month. Results:  At baseline the mean, the MDS – UPDRS (Part-I) score was 14.20 ± 0.61 and at the end of 3rd month, the mean score was 11.18 ± 0.47 respectively. At baseline the mean, the MDS – UPDRS (part-II) score was 18.99 ± 0.70 and at the end of 3rd month, the mean score was 13.01 ± 0.57, respectively. At baseline the mean, the MDS – UPDRS (part-III) score was 45.19 ± 0.90 and at the end of 3rd month, the mean score was 25.15 ± 1.20 respectively. At baseline the mean, the MDS – UPDRS (part-IV) score was 10.18 ± 0.87 and at the end of 3rd month, the mean score was 3.85 ± 1.03, respectively.  Conclusion:  The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is safe and effective in the management of PD.


1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. E7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Iacono ◽  
Jonathan D. Carlson ◽  
Sandra Kuniyoshi ◽  
Aymen Mohamed ◽  
Christine Meltzer ◽  
...  

To investigate the effects of bilateral posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) for Parkinson's disease (PD), the authors reviewed the technique and neurological outcome in a number of patients who had undergone bilateral pallidotomy. The authors have previously reported the outcome of PVP in 25 bilateral and 25 unilateral surgeries, rating the patient's postural stability, speech, and total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores. A second, separate group of 23 patients who underwent contemporaneous bilateral PVP were evaluated for early onset idiopathic PD, levodopa failure syndrome, and severe bilateral dyskinesia as well as akinetic “off” states. Cognitive and psychological studies were reviewed in 10 patients who demonstrated preoperative impairments in spatial recognition and memory. Following surgery there were significant improvements in these cognitive deficits and no deficits were incurred by surgery. Published reports regarding bilateral operations for PD have emphasized the risks of speech and cognitive deficits. This study shows bilateral PVP to be effective, particularly in patients with bilateral symptoms, including disabling dyskinesia. Additionally, bilateral PVP does not cause additional cognitive or speech deficits. The techniques and indications as well as outcomes and complications are presented and discussed in this report in light of their controversial nature.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chifumi Iseki ◽  
Taiga Furuta ◽  
Masao Suzuki ◽  
Shingo Koyama ◽  
Keiji Suzuki ◽  
...  

A woman started to feel intractable pain on her lower legs when she was 76. At the age of 78, she was diagnosed as having Parkinson’s disease (PD). The leg pain was suspected to be a symptom of PD after eliminating other causes. The patient also suffered from nonmotor symptoms, depression, anxiety, hot flashes, and paroxysmal sweating. Though the patient had received pharmacotherapy including levodopa for 5 years, she still suffered from the nonmotor symptoms and was referred to our department. We treated her with acupuncture based on the Chinese traditional medicine and electroacupuncture five times per week. After the 2-week treatment, the assessment for the symptoms was as follows; visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the leg pain was 16 mm (70 mm, before), Hamilton’s rating scales for depression (HAM-D) score was 9 (18, before), timed 3 m Up and Go took 20 steps in 30 sec (24 steps in 38 sec, before), and the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part 1 score was 13 (21, before). Autonomic symptoms, hot flashes and paroxysmal sweating, were also alleviated. Acupuncture may be a good treatment modality for nonmotor symptoms in PD.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josè D. Carrillo-Ruiz ◽  
Francisco Velasco ◽  
Fiacro Jimènez ◽  
Guillermo Castro ◽  
Ana L. Velasco ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Tremor and rigidity have been efficiently controlled by electrical stimulation of contralateral prelemniscal radiations (Raprl) in patients with unilateral Parkinson's disease. The present study determines the effect of bilateral Raprl electrical stimulation in a group of patients with severe bilateral tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. METHODS Five patients with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr scale, Stage V) underwent bilateral stereotactic electrode implantation. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging studies confirmed their position. Bipolar chronic electrical stimulation was performed through contiguous contacts of each electrode, which were selected by means of a screening test that explored multiple combinations. Preoperative and 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month postoperative evaluations were performed using international rating scales. Postoperative evaluations were performed with 24 hours off medication-on stimulation. RESULTS Contralateral tremor and rigidity were significantly decreased by simple insertion of electrodes in Raprl and returned hours to days later. Contacts for chronic stimulation were located in the area between the red and subthalamic nuclei, including Raprl, zona incerta, and substantia Q. Efficient stimulation had at least one contact in Raprl and in four cases, both contacts were only in Raprl. Stimulation parameters were 90 to 130 Hz, 90 to 330 μs, and 1.5 to 3.5 V. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (motor, Part III) scores decreased 65% (P &lt; 0.001), with improvements of 90% in tremor (P &lt; 0.001), 94% in rigidity (P &lt; 0.001), 75% in bradykinesia (P &lt; 0.001), 40% in gait, and 35% in postural stability (P &lt; 0.05) at 1 year. CONCLUSION Raprl electrical stimulation is safe and efficient to treat patients with the Parkinson's disease symptomatic triad. By use of Raprl stereotactic coordinates, electrodes were placed behind the subthalamic nucleus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-40
Author(s):  
IE E Poverennova ◽  
VA A Kalinin ◽  
SA A Shpileva

Parkinson’s disease takes first place among neurological diseases of senior persons and its prevalence consists of 2% among people elderly than 65 years old. Disturbance of gait and postural instability are the most important motor disorders in case of Parkinson’s disease. Aim - to reveal factors which influence on the falling down of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Materials and methods. The use of unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale for examination of patients with Parkinson’s disease was performed. Results of rating scales were analyzed due to regression analysis. Results. It was revealed that the most important factor of falling down is the disturbance of gait. Freezing of gait has little influence on falling. Conclusion. The use of such diagnostic tests in the routine neurological examination allows to optimize medication therapy and to use modern non- medication methods of correction of gait.


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