Objective: Levodopa carbidopa intestinal jel (LCIJ) treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease patients is live-saving for the appropriate patients, however follow up of the patients has prime importance.

Background: LCIJ using patients have a risk of polyneuropathy, weight loss and frequent tube and system related problems. Long term data of the movement disorder centers are important and priming for the new centers that have planned to apply this treatment for their patients.

Method: The data of 15 patients using levodopa carbidopaintestinal gel treatment were retrospectively evaluated from follow-up cards. The follow-up time of the patients was calculated as 29 months, the duration of the disease was 12 years and their mean age was 66.

Results: The B12 serum levels of the patients with an average of 482 before the treatment were 593 in the sixth month and the last visit value was 534. The mean weights before treatment were 70 kg, 71 kg in the sixth month and 66 kg at the last visit.
When EMG studies are examined, minimum 2 and maximum 3 evaluations obtained during follow-up were evaluated as normal in 7 of 15 patients. Four patients with sensory axonal polyneuropathy before treatment were followed up with similar findings in follow-up tests. EMG test, which was normal in only one patient, was recorded as sensory axonal neuropathy at the sixth month. Two patients with sensory motor axonal polyneuropathy before treatment were followed up with the same findings at follow-up.

Conclusion: The weight loss was calculated as 6% at the end of the average 29 months.The use of vitamin B12 replacement therapy and reduction of weight loss are important follow-up principles in patients using LCIJ therapy. 
Follow-up ENMG studies of patients should be interpreted considering the pre-treatment electrophysiological records. Electrophysiological follow-ups were carried out in our clinic at 6-12 and 18 months. No symptomatic case of polyneuropathy with severity to terminate treatment was observed.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/monitoring-electrophysiological-recordings-in-patients-with-lcij-therapy/