EFFECT OF CHRONIC ORAL DOMPERIDONE THERAPY ON GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AND GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSONS-DISEASE

This study investigated whether domperidone could improve gastrointest inal symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease who were receiving levodopa therapy. A total of 11 patients were studied. Following a bas eline gastric emptying test, patients were treated with a starting dos e of domperidone 20 mg p.o. q.i.d. A follow-up gastric emptying test w as repeated at least 4 months after starting domperidone therapy. At t he beginning and at each 3-month follow-up visit, symptoms of nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal bloating, heartburn, regurgitation, dysp hagia, and constipation were evaluated and scored on a scale of 0-3. T he overall mean follow-up period was 3 years. Compared with their base line evaluation, patients experienced a significant improvement in all symptoms (p < 0.05) except dysphagia and constipation. Gastric emptyi ng of an isotope-labeled solid meal was significantly faster, with a b aseline result of 60.2 +/- 6.4% retention of isotope 2 h after the mea l compared with 37.0 +/- 2.2% retention during domperidone therapy (p < 0.05). Patients' global assessment of Parkinson's disease remained s table or improved. Serum prolactin was elevated in all patients after domperidone therapy (p < 0.05). Domperidone therapy significantly redu ces upper gastrointestinal symptoms and accelerates gastric emptying o f a solid meal, but does not interfere with response to antiparkinsoni sm treatment.