Unilateral Focused Ultrasound Subthalamotomy for Parkinson Disease

A pilot study suggests a benefit, with evidence of adverse effects, in a limited range of patients.

To examine the effects of MRI-guided unilateral ultrasound subthalamotomy for Parkinson disease (PD) tremor, researchers conducted a prospective, open-label pilot trial in 10 patients with highly asymmetric PD. The primary study outcomes were safety and change in hemibody PD motor scores on the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS).

A total of 38 adverse events were reported during 6 months of follow-up. Seven adverse events were persistent and three were directly related to subthalamotomy, including dyskinesia. Also reported were transient gait ataxia, pin-site head pain, and transient high blood pressure. The mean MDS–UPDRS III motor score in the treated hemibody improved by 53% from baseline to 6 …

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)