Objective: To investigate the clinical features and prevalence of levodopa-induced dyskinesias in patients with Parkinson’s disease in the Uzbek population.
Background: Levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) are among the most frequent motor complications of long-term dopaminergic therapy in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, epidemiological and clinical data on LID from Central Asian countries remain extremely limited. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the prevalence and clinical characteristics of levodopa-induced dyskinesias in the Uzbek population, as well as their association with affective disturbances.
Method: A total of 92 patients with clinically established PD were included in this observational study. The mean age was 64.3 ± 8.7 years; the cohort included 56 men (60.9%) and 36 women (39.1%). All patients received dopaminergic therapy with levodopa-containing medications. Clinical assessment included neurological examination and evaluation of disease stage according to the Hoehn and Yahr scale. The severity of dyskinesias was assessed using the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS). Affective symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) for assessment of anhedonia.
Results: Levodopa-induced dyskinesias were detected in 82% of patients, including individuals with early disease stages (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–2). This high prevalence may reflect the frequent initiation of PD treatment with levodopa in routine clinical practice. Patients with dyskinesias demonstrated significantly higher levels of anxiety (+3.4 points, p<0.05), depression (+5.4 points, p<0.05), and anhedonia (+4.2 points, p<0.05) compared with patients without dyskinesias.
Conclusion: The early and frequent occurrence of LID in this cohort may be associated with non-optimized initiation strategies of dopaminergic therapy. Early development of dyskinesias appears to be linked with a higher burden of affective symptoms and may negatively influence quality of life. Improving physician education regarding contemporary PD treatment algorithms may help reduce motor complications and improve patient outcomes in the region.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
G. Isroilova, Z. Sayfitdinkhuzhaev. Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesias in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease in the Uzbek Population [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/levodopa-induced-dyskinesias-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-in-the-uzbek-population/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/levodopa-induced-dyskinesias-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-in-the-uzbek-population/