Apomorphine formulation may influence subcutaneous complications from continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion in Parkinson’s disease

• Published in: Journal of neurology 2020, Vol.267 (11), p.3411-3417
• Main Authors: Hagell, Peter, Höglund, Arja, Hellqvist, Carina, Johansson, Eva-Lena, Löwed, Berit, Sjöström, Anne-Christine, Karlberg, Carina, Lundgren, Margareth, Dizdar, Nil, Johansson, Anders, Willows, Thomas, Rådberg, Johan, Bergquist, Filip
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apomorphine; Clinical Medicine; Klinisk medicin; Levodopa; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosciences; Nodules; Original Communication; Pain; Parkinson's disease; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 0340-5354; 1432-1459; 1432-1459
• DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10031-1

Continuous subcutaneous (s.c.) apomorphine infusion is an effective therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD), but a limitation is the formation of troublesome s.c. nodules. Various chemically non-identical apomorphine formulations are available. Anecdotal experiences have suggested that shifting from one of these (Apo-Go PumpFill ® ; apoGPF) to another (Apomorphine PharmSwed ® ; apoPS) may influence the occurrence and severity of s.c. nodules. We, therefore, followed 15 people with advanced PD (median PD-duration, 15 years; median “off”-phase Hoehn and Yahr, IV) on apoGPF and with troublesome s.c. nodules who were switched to apoPS. Data were collected at baseline, at the time of switching, and at a median of 1, 2.5, and 7.3 months post-switch. Total nodule numbers ( P