[Movement disorders units and management of motor fluctuations in advanced Parkinson's disease].

Introduction: Advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) entails complications, such as motor fluctuations. In Spain, medical attention for such cases is often provided in movement disorder units (MDU).

Aim: To gain further knowledge of the diagnostic resources and therapeutic approach of MDU.

Subjects And Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The researchers designed an on-line questionnaire, addressed to neurologists from MDUs, containing 48 questions about the resources they have available, the number of patients with PD and motor fluctuations that have been attended to, as well as the therapeutic approach, according to the Hoehn and Yahr (HY) scale.

Results: Fifty-five neurologists participated. Structural neuroimaging is available to 100% of them; 89% have access to functional neuroimaging; 89% have acute pharmacological tests available for use; 78% have access to genetic tests; and 53% have transcranial ultrasound at their disposal. There are 2.5 neurologists and 1.2 nurses per unit. Of the patients with PD that they see, 19% of them are in HY stage 1, 59% are in HY stage 2-3 and 22% are in HY stage 4-5. Treatment consists, first of all, in monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors in HY stages 1 and 2, and levodopa in HY stages 3, 4 and 5. Twenty-four per cent of the patients have motor fluctuations, with 5.5 off episodes per day, lasting 44 minutes, with a total of seven off hours per day. Fourteen per cent of the patients under 70 years of age with more than three long-term off episodes per day are receiving invasive treatment for motor fluctuations.

Conclusions: MDUs are well equipped with diagnostic and pharmacological resources. Pharmacological treatments are tailored to each patient with a wide range of combinations. Despite this optimisation, the prevalence of motor fluctuations is still high in advanced patients, and invasive therapies may be underused.