Subthalamic nucleus stimulation: improvements in outcome with reprogramming.

BACKGROUND Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently the most effective surgical treatment for advanced Parkinson disease (PD). Even when the electrode is well positioned in the target, the optimization of clinical results depends on careful programming of electrical parameters and changes in antiparkinsonian drug dosages. OBJECTIVE To determine whether stable outcomes from subthalamic nucleus DBS for PD can be improved by revising stimulation parameters and drug dosages through "hands-on" involvement of a neurologist expert in both movement disorders and DBS programming. METHODS In 44 consecutive patients with PD with long-term stable response to subthalamic nucleus DBS (mean +/- SD, 3.5 +/- 1.7 years), we compared scores from the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale parts II through IV obtained immediately before and following a formal reprogramming of their stimulation. The reprogramming was performed by a neurologist expert in both PD and DBS and accompanied by further medication adjustments. The patients were subsequently followed up for as long as 14 months. RESULTS In 24 patients (54.6%), the scores on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale parts II and III significantly improved by 15.0% and 25.9%, respectively. Anti-PD drugs were significantly reduced (by 25.9%). No improvement was observed in 16 patients (36.4%), and the conditions of 4 patients (9.1%) worsened. CONCLUSIONS Further improvement of parkinsonian signs can be achieved in the majority of patients even after long-term stable stimulation. Improved patient outcomes from subthalamic nucleus DBS are obtained when postoperative care is personally managed by a neurologist expert in movement disorders and DBS who is directly responsible for stimulation programming and simultaneous drug adjustments based on observed clinical responses to changing stimulation parameters.