Investigational drugs for autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Autonomic disturbances are common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD),[1,2] with orthostatic hypotension affecting 20%–65% of patients,[3,4] sialorrhea about 75%,[5,6] sexual dysfunction 60% of men, urinary dysfunction up to 40%, and gastrointestinal motility disorders causing constipation up to 80%.[2] These symptoms can impair patients’ quality of life, worsen the burden of their caregivers, cause hospitalization and institutionalization, and increase the cost of care of patients with PD by four times.