Five-Year Outcomes for Early Deep Brain Stimulation Before Motor Fluctuations

A 5-year study suggests possible benefits that need to be explored in a larger clinical trial.

Investigators conducted a study of bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for early-stage Parkinson disease (PD). Patients were enrolled before the occurrence of motor fluctuations or dyskinesia. The parent study was a prospective, single-blind safety study of 30 patients with early PD (Hoehn and Yahr II score off medications) randomized to receive either STN DBS plus optimal drug therapy (ODT) or ODT alone. The primary safety study was conducted for 2 years. Follow-up was extended through 5 years for 28 patients, during which 4 patients crossed over from ODT alone to DBS.

STN DBS plus ODT was associated with significantly lower levodopa-equivalent daily doses and with 0.06 times the odds of requiring multiple PD me…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)