The apomorphine test for diagnosis of parkinsonian syndrome
Piccini, P.; Del Dotto, P.; Napolitano, A.; Pardini, C.; Bonuccelli, U.
Rivista di Neurologia 60(6): 221-223
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-6344 PMID: 2100046 Document Number: 361297
Apomorphine is a powerful dopaminergic drug, able to improve cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease in few minutes, when injected subcutaneously. We administered different doses of apomorphine s.c. against placebo in 25 patients with a Parkinsonian syndrome, with the aim of discriminating Parkinson's disease from other Parkinsonism. A positive response to apomorphine was predictive (88%) of good responsiveness to levodopa therapy. Our data, together with those of other groups, indicate that apomorphine test is a useful tool in the diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndromes.