Evaluation of effectiveness of the micrographia's therapy in Parkinson's disease patients

Jarzebska, E.

Micrographia is one of the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Its cause is hypokinesia (reduced movement's amplitude). The methods of management of micrographia are founded on the assumption that the important cause of prolonged hypokinesia in Parkinson's disease patients is impairment of attention. The aim of the work was to analyse relationship between an occurrence and intensity of micrographia and others clinical features of Parkinson's disease. The another aim was to assessment of effectiveness of micrographia's management. 40 Parkinson's disease patients (19 women and 21 men) aged from 49 to 82 years (mean--65.5) were examined. In the analysis age, duration of disease, predominance of right- or left - side symptoms, impairments of concentration of attention, dosage of levodopa, UPDRS score, and the level on the Hoehn and Yahr's scale were taken into account. In therapy of micrographia three methods were managed: writing between lines determining desired height of letters, writing with a big dot as a guide for letter's size and regular reminding the patient of the need to write at bigger size. micrographia was occurred in 30 of 40 Parkinson's disease patients (75%). The better writing magnitude was obtained in all patients, but in 16 patients the effect was much better and maintained to 6 hours, whereas in 14 patients the effect was worse and maintained only short time. No relationship was found between an applied method of therapy and its effect. A significant statistical relationship was established between impairments of concentration of attention and a worse effect micrographia's therapy. Micrographia occurs in 75% Parkinson's disease patients. The therapy is successful in more than 50% of patients. Impairments of concentration of attention exert an adverse effect on micrographia's therapy.

Evaluation of effectiveness of the micrographia's therapy in Parkinson's disease patients

Jarzebska, E., 2006: Evaluation of effectiveness of the micrographia's therapy in Parkinson's disease patients. Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski 20(120): 688-690