Article

This study was designated to quantitatively evaluate the effect of
levodopa on spinal posture in patients with PD using a computer-assisted handheld
SpinalMouse device. METHODS: Prospective case-study involving 48 patients with
definite PD. All patients were recruited between September 2011 and September
2013 and included 22 dopa-naive, evaluated before and 3 months after initiation
of treatment, and 26 patients with response fluctuations studied during the "off"
and "on" states.
The SpinalMouse instrument, a computer-assisted mechanical
hand-held device, designed to noninvasively assess the curvature of the spine was
guided along the midline of the vertebral column in upright, full flexion, and
full extension positions to objectively assess spinal posture. RESULTS: In the
dopa-naive patients, spinal incline in the upright position was 12.4+/-1.2
degrees before and 7.6+/-1.3 degrees after treatment; p=0.002. Corresponding
area-under-the-curve (AUC) values were 131.7+/-8.0 cm(2) and 87.1+/-7.3 cm(2);
p<0.0001. In the response fluctuations patients, spinal incline was 13.3+/-1.3
degrees in the "off" and 9.3+/-1.2 degrees in the "on" period; p=0.015.
Corresponding AUC values were 144.6+/-9.2 cm(2) and 103.1+/-8.2 cm(2); p<0.0001.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that objectively measured and quantified
abnormalities of spinal posture in patients with PD. Findings suggest that
levodopa does have a beneficial effect on anterior flexion of the thoracolumbar
spine, and thus indicate that the disorder of stooped posture in PD is mediated,
at least in part, by dopamine deficiency.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS