Department

neurology

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Patients with Parkinson's disease are at risk for pulmonary complications as a consequence of both the underlying disease pathology and the side effects of medication. Degeneration of the substantia nigra and subsequent loss of dopaminergic neurons may produce changes in ventilatory parameters. Upper airway obstruction and chest wall restriction are both common, and both may respond to levodopa. However, therapy for Parkinson's may also contribute to pulmonary morbidity. Overtreatment with levodopa causes respiratory dyskinesia that may be difficult to differentiate from complications of the disease itself. Therapy with ergot derivatives may cause pleuropulmonary fibrosis. Pneumonia resulting from the respiratory complications remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Parkinson's disease.

Medical Subject Headings

neurology

Publication Date

2002

Publication Title

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

ISSN

1069-3424

Volume

23

Issue

3

First Page

261

Last Page

265

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1055/s-2002-33034

Download

Share

COinS