Infusion therapy is the only chance for a normal life for some patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the Polish Neurological Society has been recommending reimbursement of infusion therapies for four years, it is still not available in our country. This means that some patients with advanced Parkinson's disease have a disability.

Infusion therapyis a therapy that is used only in a certain group of patients with advanced form of Parkinson's disease for whom there is no other treatment option. Infusion therapy involves the continuous administration of drugs through a pump - enterally or subcutaneously - that ensures a constant level in the blood, which allows you to control the bothersome symptoms of the disease. A drug called duodopa is used enterally - explains the president-elect of the Polish Neurological Society, prof. Jarosław Sławek. For subcutaneous infusions, apomorphine is administered.

Infusion therapy allows you to live a normal life in advanced Parkinson's disease

In the initial stage of Parkinson's disease development, the administration of oral drugs (L-dopa) allows the maintenance of efficiency. Thanks to them, patients can often function normally for five, 10 or even 15 years - explained Assoc. Dariusz Koziorowski from the Department of Neurology of the Faculty of He alth Sciences of the Medical University of Warsaw during the debate "Equal opportunities. Quality of life of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease in Poland. "

Infusion therapy (like other known treatments) cannot stop the natural progression of Parkinson's disease. However, it allows the patient to function actively, work professionally, for many years from the moment of diagnosis.

This period is called the "honeymoon" of the disease. Later, however, the effectiveness of oral medications decreases, and the symptoms of the disease can no longer be controlled. In order for the patient to function normally, it is necessary to use newer therapies. This is possible thanks to infusion therapies and deep brain stimulation (DBS). In the latter case, electrodes are implanted into specific brain structures, which, under the influence of electrical impulses, improve the patient's efficiency immediately after the operation. - Thanks to new therapies, they are able to eat on their own orto get dressed, and that's a lot for them and for their guardians, who are usually a wife or husband and children, said Wojciech Machajek from the Parkinson Foundation.

However, only one is reimbursed in Poland - deep brain stimulation. However, for another patient, it cannot be used due to contraindications. These sick people are therefore doomed to disability.

Infusion therapy in Parkinson's disease still not reimbursed

Infusion therapy is available in most European Union countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and even Romania and Bulgaria, but not in Poland, although the Polish Neurological Society has been recommending reimbursement of infusion therapies for four years. All because of the price of the therapy, which costs PLN 12 million a year. However, it still pays off to use it. Why? As the treated patient remains fit, he can be professionally active. Therefore, the Social Insurance Institution does not have to pay the patient benefits and sick leave. And according to the data of the National He alth Fund, quoted by Dr. Małgorzata Gałązka-Sobotka from the Lazarski University in Warsaw, in 2013 (the latest available data), ZUS granted patients with advanced forms of this disease for benefits and sick leave reaching PLN 45 million. On the other hand, in 2013, the NHF spent over a half less, i.e. about PLN 20 million, on hospital treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease.

Worth knowing

The most important facts about Parkinson's disease:

  • Parkinson's disease is a common condition related to age. Most often it begins between the ages of 40 and 70, and the average age of onset is 58 years. Men are 1.5 times more likely to suffer from it.
  • The average survival time from diagnosis is now 15.8 years.
  • About 25% of patients live with the disease for nearly 20 years.
  • The symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease can be divided into motor and non-motor. The motor phases are alternating: the OFF phase (slowing down the movements to a standstill); the ON phase (periods of relatively normal motor function as well as periods of uncontrolled movements). The non-motor skills include: cognitive impairment, dementia, uncontrolled urination, weight loss.

Category:

Neurology