Early Parkinson Disease by Dr Damith Liyanage
Channel: ASN Neurology
Date: 2021-07-09

Webinar 20 - 10 Pearls Series

Webinar series conducted by the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists targeted at the Medical Officers, Medical Registrars, General Physicians, Family Physicians and Medical Students. A journey of 32 neurology topics, each with 10 pearls.

The twentieth lecture in the series, Early Parkinson Disease is delivered by Dr Damith Liyanage. He is a Consultant Neurologist currently attached to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital of Sri Lanka.

10 Pearls of this lecture
1. Parkinsonism is a constellation of clinical features where the Parkinson disease is one entity with parkinsonism.
2. Cause by dopamine depletion in basal ganglia and Lewy bodies constitute the pathological hallmark
3. Has cardinal and secondary motor manifestations
4. Series of non motor manifestations ; some begin before the motor manifestations
5. Preclinical, prodromal and clinical stages
6. MRI is non diagnostic and DaT scan is helpful in differentiating degenerative parkinsonian syndromes from others
7. Diagnosis is clinical and based on defining parkinsonism, considering exclusion criteria, supportive features and 'red flags"
8. Wide differential diagnosis ; most important and difficult being atypical parkinsonian syndromes
9. Treatment is supportive and levodopa is the most effective pharmacological agent
10. MDS - UPDRS assess the severity and progression ; principles (non motor and motor aspect of daily living, motor examination, motor complications) useful in day to day clinic follow up of patients with PD

Thumbnail artwork credits - Photo by Julia Freeman Woolpert

ASN Website : https://asn.lk
ASN Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Association-of-Sri-Lankan-Neurologists-100875014680039/