Does Continuous Dopaminergic Stimulation Reduce Dyskinesia Risk?

With advancing disease and long-term levodopa therapy, most patients with Parkinson disease (PD) develop motor complications, such as dyskinesias and off periods. These complications are thought to be caused by the pulsatile stimulation of the dopaminergic receptors. Animal and clinical studies suggest that continuous administration of levodopa might mitigate these motor complications. STRIDE-PD was a manufacturer-funded trial designed to compare the rates of motor complications in patients taking a standard levodopa/carbidopa (LC) regimen and in those taking levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone (LCE); the latter was expected to provide more-continuous dopaminergic stimulation. The researchers randomized 747 patients with PD to LC or LCE, administ…