Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I. Disorder Discussion
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain
responsible for body movement or specifically the dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”)
neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. When dopamine-producing
neurons die, signs and symptoms such as tremors, slow movements (bradykinesia), muscle
stiffness, alteration of posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, changes in language
and changes in writing (micrographia) occur. The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but
several factors seem to play a role, including genes and environmental triggers. Why? The
researchers have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause Parkinson's disease.
However, they are rare, except in rare cases in many family members with Parkinson's disease.
Environmental triggers are also a cause of Parkinson’s disease because an exposure to certain
toxins or environmental factors can increase the risk of developing Parkinson's later on
however the risk is relatively small. There are also risk factors for Parkinson's disease and
these include age, heredity, gender, and exposure to toxins. In addition, Parkinson's disease is
often associated with these additional treatable problems. These are difficulty thinking,
depression and emotional changes, swallowing problems, chewing and eating problems,
sleeping disorders and problems, bladder problems, and constipation. A person with
Parkinson’s may also experience changes in blood pressure, olfactory dysfunction, fatigue,
pain, and sexual dysfunction. Although there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, medications
can greatly improve the symptoms along with proper diet and exercise. At times, the doctor may
suggest surgery to regulate certain areas of the brain and improve the symptoms like deep
brain stimulation surgery.
B. Pathophysiology
The two hallmark features in the substantia nigra pars compacta are loss of neurons and the
presence of Lewy bodies. There is a positive correlation between the degree of nigrostriatal
dopamine loss and severity of motor symptoms. PD is relatively asymptomatic until profound
depletion (70% to 80%) of substantia nigra pars compacta neurons has occurred. Reduced
activation of dopamine-1 and dopamine-2 receptors results in greater inhibition of the thalamus.
Clinical improvement may be more tied to restoring activity at the dopamine-2 receptor than at
the dopamine-1 receptor. Loss of presynaptic nigrostriatal dopamine neurons results in
inhibition of thalamic activity and activity in the motor cortex. Degeneration of nigrostriatal
dopamine neurons results in a relative increase of striatal cholinergic activity, which contributes
to the tremor of PD.
● Based on the HPI and UPDRS, the patient’s symptoms are consistent with early, mild
Parkinson’s disease.
● Manifestation is somewhat slow and progressively smaller in size indicating signs of
micrographia during motor tests
● Patient’s reduced arm swing, left side rigidity, hand tremor and masked face manifests
Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
● Patient’s motor exam results indicate that there is a progress in bradykinesia and motor
abnormalities with the patient.
● Motor disturbances such as resting tremor (patient’s right side rigidity) and decreased
facial expression and eye blinking are mainly present and observable.
● Rigidity is observed on one side.
● Resting tremor frequently observed.
● No alteration of postural reflexes.
● None of her medications mimic the symptoms of PD.
● The treatment's goals are to reduce symptoms, impairment, and side effects while
preserving quality of life. Exercise, adequate diet, and patient and caregiver education
are all important.
PHARMACOLOGICAL NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL
- Amantadine can help with tremor, - Tai chi is an ancient Chinese type of
rigidity, and bradykinesia, although it's exercise that uses slow, flowing
most commonly used to treat L-dopa- motions to promote flexibility, balance,
induced dyskinesia. Amantadine side and muscle strength. Tai chi may also
effects may include Sedation, dry aid in the prevention of falls. There
mouth, hallucinations, dizziness, and are several types of tai chi that are
disorientation. A common but appropriate for persons of all ages
reversible adverse effect is livedo and physical abilities.
reticularis (diffuse mottling of the skin
in the upper or lower extremities). - Tai chi may enhance balance in
adults with mild to moderate
Parkinson's disease more than
stretching and weight training,
according to a study.
- The most effective medicine available - Exercising can help you strengthen
is l-dopa, which is a precursor to your muscles, improve your flexibility,
dopamine. It passes the blood-brain and improve your balance. Exercise
barrier, unlike dopamine, carbidopa, can also boost your mood and help
and benserazide. L-dopa will you cope with depression or anxiety.
eventually be required for all
Parkinson's disease patients. ● Try not to move too quickly.
● Aim for your heel to strike the
➢ L-dopa is converted to dopamine by l-
amino acid decarboxylase (l-AAD) in floor first when you're walking.
the central nervous system (CNS) and ● If you notice yourself shuffling,
peripherally. Carbidopa or
stop and check your posture.
benserazide can block l-AAD in the
peripheral nervous system, enhancing It's best to stand up straight.
CNS penetration of given l-dopa and ● Look in front of you, not directly
reducing dopamine side effects. The
typical maximum tolerated dose of l- down, while walking.
dopa is 1000 to 1500 mg per day.
Long-term motor complications
caused by l-dopa can be disabling.
"End-of-dose wearing off" and "peak-
dose dyskinesias" are the most
common of these. After a year of l-
dopa therapy, the chances of
developing motor fluctuations or
dyskinesias are about 10%. However,
5 to 6 months after starting l-dopa,
motor complications can occur,
especially if high doses are used at
first.
- Selegiline and rasagiline, which are - Gentle stretching motions and poses
selective, irreversible MAO-B in yoga can help you gain flexibility
inhibitors, are unlikely to cause a and balance. Most stances can be
"cheese reaction" (hypertension, altered to suit your physical abilities.
headache) at therapeutic levels
unless dietary tyramine is consumed
in large proportions. Combining MAO-
B Inhibitors with meperidine or other
opioid analgesics, on the other hand,
is not recommended due to the
danger of serotonin syndrome.
➢ Tolcapone and entacapone are - Massage therapy can help relax and
used in combination with carbidopa/l- relieve muscle tension.
dopa to block the conversion of l-dopa
to dopamine in the peripheral nervous
system (increasing the area under the
curve of l-dopa by approximately 35
percent ). As a result, "on" time is
increased by 1 to 2 hours, and l-dopa
dosage requirements are reduced. To
avoid inhibiting the routes for normal
catecholamine metabolism, avoid
taking nonselective MAO inhibitors at
the same time. Tolcapone should
only be used in people who are
experiencing fluctuations that aren't
responding to other treatments.
Because entacapone has a shorter
half-life, 200 mg is given up to eight
times a day with each dose of
carbidopa/l-dopa. Adverse
dopaminergic effects can occur, and
they can be managed by lowering the
carbidopa/l-dopa dose. Although
brownish orange urine staining has
been recorded (as with tolcapone),
entacapone has not been linked to
hepatotoxicity.
Dopamine Agonists
III. Questions
❶ PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
1.a. List and assess each one of the patient’s complaints. Determine if there are
multiple potential etiologies that could account for the symptoms.
● The patient complains that her work performance has declined due to her tremor
which makes it difficult for her to type on the computer, and have been slower in
making tasks. Based on the complaint, the patient has been experiencing tremor
which is one of the features of Parkinson’s Disease which gives the patient a hard
time to type and can not finish tasks due to it.
● Based on the etiologies that may account for the symptoms, her mother has been
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease which may be genetically acquired, the
Alzheimer’s with Parkinsonism. Moreover, the patient is a 53 years old woman which
is the age of onset of Parkinson’s Disease. Although men are more likely to have PD
than women with a ratio or 2:1, there is still a probability that sex has been an etiologic
reason for acquiring PD.
1.b. Assess the abnormalities in the physical examination and laboratory findings.
● PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
○ The patient is having a small amount of dry yellow scales in her eyebrows
known as seborrheic dermatitis.
○ The patient is having hypomimia or the decreased facial expression, decreased
eye blink, pupils are equally round, react briskly to light and a supranuclear
palsy.
○ The patient has been experiencing depression but in a normal state showing a
3/66 scale in the neurologic examination which results in her sleep and libido
problems.
○ The patient underwent Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)
having a total score of 19.
■ In the first part, the patient had a score of 0/16 on her mentation,
behavior and mood which means the patient is normal.
■ In the second part, the patient has an ADL score of 5/52 which interprets
the patient's mild trouble in handwriting, cutting food, tremors and
dressing.
■ In the third part, the patient has a motor exam score of 7/108 which
interprets a mild problem with her facial expression and overall
bradykinesia.
● The patient has a right-sided rigidity and rest tremor which
appears like a classic pill-rolling tremor.
● The patient has problems with fine motor coordination on her right
side noted by the rapid alternating movement, finger taps, hand
movements and foot tap tests.
○ The patient is somewhat slow and progressively does handwriting in a smaller
size which indicates signs of micrographia.
● LABORATORY FINDINGS - There were no abnormalities in the patient.
1.c. List the cardinal motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD, and describe which signs
and symptoms of PD are present in this patient.
The patient has somewhat slow and progressively in size handwriting which is an indication
of micrographia. In her motor exam, the result shows that she has (mild problems with facial
expression and overall bradykinesia which all fall under cardinal motor symptoms. The patient
also complains of constipation, night sweats (diaphoresis), and decreased libido for 6–8
months which is an indication of sexual dysfunction which are examples of cardinal non-motor
symptoms.
1.d. According to the Hoehn–Yahr Scale, what stage is the patient’s disease?
● According to the Hoehn–Yahr Scale, the patient has stage 1 Parkinson’s disease based
on her symptoms and examinations. Stage 1 of Parkinson's disease is the earliest stage
in which the symptoms of PD are mild and only seen on one side of the body (unilateral
involvement), and there is usually minimal or no functional impairment. The patient has
the symptoms of an intermittent tremor of one hand for many years, didin`t swing one
arm as much as the other while walking, mild problems with facial expression and one
hand may have been clumsier than the other. These symptoms are so mild that the
person doesn’t seek medical attention or the physician is unable to make a diagnosis.
❷ DESIRED OUTCOME
❸ THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVES
Symptoms Treatments
Constipation - Fiber
- Hydration
- Exercise
- Laxatives
- Stool Softeners
Fatigue - Caffeine
- Armodafinil
- Modafinil
- Proper night time sleep hygiene
- Referral to sleep specialist to rule
out sleep disorder
● Hypertension
- Verapamil SR 180 mg PO every morning
● Mild Parkinson's
- Metamucil one tablespoonful PO twice daily
- Multivitamin one PO daily
- Vitamin D 1000 IU PO daily
- Pramipexole 1 mg PO three times daily
- Rasagiline 1 mg PO daily
● Nutrition and Obesity
- Refer patient to a nutrition counseling and weight loss
● Patient Education
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Nutrition
- Medication education
❺ OUTCOME EVALUATION
5. Which monitoring parameters should be used to evaluate the patient’s
response to medications and to detect adverse effects?
Verapamil
Monitoring: Effectiveness
Parameter Frequency Desired Range
Rasagiline
Monitoring: Effectiveness
Parameter Frequency Desired Range
Pramipexole
Monitoring: Effectiveness
Parameter Frequency Desired Range
❻ PATIENT EDUCATION
Parkinson's disease can't be cured, but medications can help control her symptoms,
often dramatically so it is important to follow the regimen well. Aside from that, it is also helpful
to consider lifestyle changes, especially by doing simple exercises that will work for her. It may
be walking, swimming, gardening, dancing, or stretching. Activities like these may slow the
progression of the disease and improve her balance.
In addition to that, some foods may help ease some of the symptoms just like those that are
high in fiber and drinking an adequate amount of fluids may help prevent constipation that is
common in Parkinson's disease. A balanced diet that provides nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty
acids, may also be beneficial for her.
Reference: