Abstract
Background: Swallowing function in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) can be negatively affected by dopaminergic medication with associated inhibition of brainstem reflexes. Three different "swallowing-safety" profiles of PD patients were previously observed, classified according to swallowing safety on and off levodopa.
Methods: Here, we investigated the effects of l-dopa on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) on 26 individuals with PD from the three different swallowing-safety profiles. PFTs results were compared to predicted values and direct comparisons between the groups with or without dysphagia were performed with nonparametric statistical tests (i.e., Kruskal-Wallis).
Results: A short (12-hour) withdrawal from l-dopa did not result in any significant changes in PFTs, and no differences on PFTs results were observed between the different dysphagic groups the on and off l-dopa state. No correlation was observed between the PFTs results with swallowing safety profiles of PD patients.
Conclusions: Although deglutition seems to be at least partially affected by dopaminergic repletion, dopaminergic mechanisms do not seem to be responsible for PD patients' performance in PFTs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 146-150 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Movement Disorders Clinical Practice |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Nov 2015 |