La enfermedad de Parkinson: neurología para psiquiatras

SummAry Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and degenerative disease due to the loss of the substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in the mesencephalon. Its manifestations are: tremor at rest, rigidity and slowing of movements, and alterations in posture and gait. The early onset of dementia or the presence of hallucinations, not related to the dopaminergic treatment, are associated with the presence of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or Alzheimer’s disease. The scales used to assess the stage and severity of Parkinson’s disease are: the scale of Stages of Hoehn and Yahr, and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Although there is not a drug that stops the progression of Parkinson’s disease, the current treatment for this illness consist in: a) dopamine replacement through the use of its precursor, levodopa, b) administering substances, like ropinirole, pramipexole, and bromocriptine, that increase dopamine activity to stimulate their receptors, and c) inhibiting the enzymes that destroy dopamine as the catechol- O-methyltransferase with entacapone, and monoamine oxidase type B (MAOB) with selegiline and rasagiline. Surgical treatment of Parkinson’s disease consists of ablative procedures and deep brain stimulation. This review describes their indications, administration and side effects.