Objective: To study the initial experience with levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion (LECIG) in routine clinical practice at two University Medical Centers in Slovenia.
Background: The novel treatment with LECIG has been approved in Slovenia in 2021 for the management of patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. An addition of entacapone to the standard levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) has shown to potentiate levodopa’s effect and has therefore allowed a reduced levodopa dose (by 20-35%) needed to achieve the same effective plasma levodopa levels. Entacapone also prevents B-vitamins depletion and hypovitaminosis related polyneuropathy. Additionally, the Crono LECIG pump is smaller and lighter and therefore more user-friendly.
Method: This is a retrospective observational study of advanced PD patients who started LECIG therapy at the University Medical Centers Ljubljana and Maribor. Data were acquired throughout regular check-ups and telephone interviews.
Results: Five patients (four male) in total underwent the LECIG treatment in Slovenia, four in Ljubljana and one in Maribor. Two of them had the intestinal gel therapy started de novo and three of them had switched from the previous treatment with LCIG (Duodopa). The median age was 72 years, and the median disease duration since PD diagnosis was 11 years. The median treatment duration with LECIG was 116 days. Median doses were: 8 ml as a morning dose, 2,3 ml/h as infusion rate, and 1,5 ml as extra dose. None of them discontinued LECIG. All patients were satisfied and none of them reported any side effects. However, one of the patients that had switched from the previous treatment with LCIG, reported longer periods of OFF-state and subtle dyskinesias approximately 3 months and a half after the switch to LECIG.
Conclusion: Our initial experience with LECIG treatment in five advanced PD patienst is good in both, patients who started LECIG as first device aided tretament and in patients who switched from LCIG. Patients are satisfied, too. Longer follow up of more patiens is needed to gain additional experience.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
E. Pipan, N. Zupančič Križnar, L. Ocepek, R. Rajnar, M. Kramberger, M. Menih, Z. Pirtošek, M. Trošt. Initial experience with levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion (LECIG) for the management of advanced Parkinson’s disease in Slovenia [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2022; 37 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/initial-experience-with-levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa-intestinal-gel-infusion-lecig-for-the-management-of-advanced-parkinsons-disease-in-slovenia/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2022 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/initial-experience-with-levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa-intestinal-gel-infusion-lecig-for-the-management-of-advanced-parkinsons-disease-in-slovenia/