Objective: To evaluate ‘real-world’ benefits for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and impact on healthcare team practice of the introduction of apomorphine infusion (APO) cartridge as a replacement for glass ampoules in the Brittany region, France.

Background: In France, more than 800 new PD patients/year benefit from continuous dopaminergic stimulation using APO delivered via a portable mini-pump. Previously, the solution for infusion was contained in ampoules, requiring the patient to handle needles and fill the syringe. The APO cartridge has been available in France since September 2020. The cartridge containing the solution for infusion attaches directly to the pump with no set-up steps or liquid transfer.

Method: We undertook a retrospective evaluation of 22 patients who started treatment with APO cartridge over the period September 2021 to February 2022, including de novo patients and those switching from ampoules. The following parameters were evaluated: age, duration of PD, availability of carer, PD symptoms and stage, physical activity, mode of initiation of APO, degree of autonomy on APO treatment.

Results: All patients were initiated successfully onto APO cartridge with 50% becoming autonomous (no requirement for nurse support) within one month after initiation; a further 10% are learning to become autonomous. Only 40% require continued nurse support to manage the device. As of March 2022, all patients have been on treatment for at least 2 months with 90% remaining on treatment at 6 months. 45% of patients were initiated onto APO in their own homes. Of those patients achieving autonomy, 70% were initiated at home. Of those patients who do not achieve complete autonomy, 20% have some degree of cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Our two-year experience with APO cartridge confirm that it simplifies patient management, encourages adherence to APO therapy, promotes patient independence, and reduces the need for healthcare team support. By streamlining the administration process, APO cartridge supports successful initiation of APO infusion therapy in the ambulatory care setting, and also speeds-up patient autonomy in the management of the device.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/experience-with-apomorphine-infusion-cartridge-in-france-evaluation-of-patient-and-healthcare-team-benefits/