More study is needed
Dyskinesia is a challenge in the management of Parkinson’s disease. Patients need antiparkinsonian medications to slow deterioration of motor function, but those medications can cause the involuntary movements that are a hallmark of dyskinesia.
The most common treatment for this complication, deep-brain stimulation (DBS), has its own drawbacks. It’s an open procedure, and there is a low-level risk for intracranial bleeding and infection. In addition, the electrode implants require ongoing maintenance and adjustment.
But the findings of this study show that, for patients who aren’t candidates for other therapies, such as DBS and ablative radiofrequency, FUSA may be an alternative, wrote Anette Schrag, PhD, professor of clinical neurosciences at University College London, in an accompanying commentary.
“The results confirm that it is effective in reducing motor complications of Parkinson’s disease, at least in the short term,” Dr. Schrag wrote. However, more long-term studies are needed, she added.
One-third of patients in the treatment group had no response to the treatment, and investigators aren’t sure why. Dr. Krishna noted that the benefits of the procedure waned in about a quarter of patients within a year of treatment.
Investigators plan to probe these questions in future trials.
“The results of this trial are promising,” Dr. Schrag wrote, “but given the nonreversible nature of the intervention and the progressive nature of the disease, it will be important to establish whether improvements in motor complications are maintained over longer periods and whether treatment results in improved overall functioning and quality of life for patients.”
The study was funded by Insightec. Disclosure forms for Dr. Krishna and Dr. Schrag are provided on the journal’s website.
A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.