Medical management of patients with atypical degenerative parkinsonian syndromes
Chastan, N.; Hartmann, A.
Revue Neurologique (Paris) 162(11): 1147-1158
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3787 PMID: 17086154 Document Number: 602142
Atypical degenerative parkinsonian syndromes (progressive supranuclar palsy, multiple system atrophy, cortico-basal degeneration, Lewy body dementia) are an important differential diagnosis to idiopathic Parkinson's disease. However, because these disorders are characterized by the degeneration of multiple neuronal populations, treatment approaches are much less specific than in Parkinson's disease, where dopamimetic drugs represent the mainstay of therapy. Thus, and because the progression of these disorders is usually more aggressive than Parkinson's disease, many physicians face a form of therapeutic resignation when confronted with patients suffering from atypical degenerative parkinsonian syndromes. However, in the present article, we wish to show that a symptom-by-symptom approach can substantially relieve the patients and their caregivers by providing an overview of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options.