Purpose
: To evaluate the effects of Levodopa on the swallowing of patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Methods
: The study was carried out in the Pro-Parkinson Program of the Hospital das Clinicas of the Federal University of Pernambuco. Twenty patients with idiopathic PD and 12 normal subjects (control group) were studied. The surface Electromyography (sEMG) was recorded over the suprahyoid musculature during swallowing of 3 ml and 10 ml of water and yogurt. Each volume was repeated five times. This protocol was carried out on the group with PD before and after the medication, off and on periods, and on the control group, a single time.
Results
: The amplitude of the sEMG was significantly greater for subjects of the control group than for the patients with PD (off), regarding swallowing of each volume of water. The duration of the sEMG was significantly greater for the swallowing of 3 ml of water and yogurt in patients with PD (off). During the on phase, no significant differences were noted.
Conclusion
: The administration of Levodopa on patients with PD seems to influence the amplitude and duration of the sEMG of suprahyoid muscles, approximating the variables to the values of normalcy.
Parkinson disease; Deglutition, Dysphagia; Electromyography; Levodopa
