Valutazione di efficacia e tollerabilita dell'apomorfina (Apofin® fiale) somministrata in infusione continua sottocutanea mediante microinfusore temporizzato in pazienti affetti da morbo di Parkinson grave, complicato da blocchi motori pluriquotidiani

tor fluctuations. In this study the efficacy and tolerability of apomorphine (Apofin®) given subcutaneously using a micropump has been evaluated. The drug has been administered to a group of 20 (8 male and 12 female) of Parkinsonian patients suffering from severe motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. The patients received the continuous subcutaneous infusion 12 hours a day (mean dosage 3.6 ± 0.5 mg/h) for 12 consecutive months. Apomorphine infusion induced a significative reduction of the time spent off by the patients and an increase of the on time already after one month of treatment and an improvement of the UPDRS rating scale (ADL, motor score, dyskinesias score). The results remain constant for the following 11 months of the study. The time off decreased by 63% and the on time increased by 36%. Nineteen out of 20 patients give a good evaluation of the treatment. The safety is very satisfactory, subcutaneous nodules were observed in all the patients, whereas the blood tests were normal.