Article

Parkinsonian patients can be classified in two main
subgroups: tremor dominant and akinetic-rigid.
The aim of this study was to
evaluate whether intensive rehabilitation treatment has the same efficacy in the
two subtypes. METHODS: Patients were classified according to tremor:
65 patients with absence of tremor in "on" and "off" state were assigned to Group_1 and 65 patients with tremor were assigned to Group_2. All patients
underwent a 4-week intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment. The
primary outcome measures were: the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale
(UPDRS) II, III, UPDRS akinetic-rigid score and UPDRS tremor score. The secondary
outcome measures were: the Berg Balance Scale, 6-minute walking test,
self-assessment Parkinson's Disease Disability Scale, Abnormal Involuntary
Movement Scale, Freezing of Gait Questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients in Group_1
tended to be more affected than patients in Group_2 by dyskinesias (45% vs 29% p
= 0.069) and freezing (46% vs 29%, p = 0.046). Levodopa-equivalent dosages were
higher in Group_1 (802 vs 670 mg/day, p = 0.008). Considering the effect of
rehabilitation, an homogeneous improvement was observed in all variables in both
groups of patients (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Intensive rehabilitation treatment
is effective in improving motor performance in both groups. The anatomical and
biochemical differences existing between the two subgroups appear to not
determine different clinical outcomes.

Langue : ANGLAIS