Old and New Dopamine Agonists in Parkinson's Disease

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the basic and clinical neuropharmacology of dopamine agonists and the rationale for their employment in PD. The authors have compiled an up-to-date guide, covering such topics as the pathophysiology of dopaminergic systems and the neuro-biochemistry of dopaminergic receptors, the clinical use of old and new dopamine agonists, both in the first-time treatment of PD patients and for reducing motor fluctuations in levodopa-treated ones, and the possible role of dopamine agonists as neuroprotective agents. Particular emphasis has been placed on apomorphine, an old dopamine agonist that has recently recaptured neurologists' interest for its use in both diagnostic use and therapeutic management of advanced parkinsonian patients. Articles discussing the results of ongoing clinical studies of newly developed dopamine agonists and the potential use of dopamine agonists, both new and old, as neuroprotectors should be of particular interest to the reader. The work is an exhaustive up-to-date compendium that assembles the entire spectrum of current basic and clinical research on dopaminergic systems and dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease into a single authoritative source.