Sept.2,2015
Researchers
at the University of Maryland and the University of Virginia have performed the
first focused ultrasound treatments in the United States for dyskinesia
associated with Parkinson's disease.
These
treatments are part of international pilot studies of 40 patients assessing the
feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of MR-guided focused ultrasound
pallidotomy for dyskinesia that occurs with Parkinson's disease.
Investigators
are using magnetic resonance imaging (MR) to guide ultrasound waves through the
intact skin and skull to reach the globus pallidus, a structure deep in the
brain. If successful, focused ultrasound could offer an alternative approach
for certain patients with Parkinson's disease who have failed medical therapy
or become disabled from medication-induced dyskinesia. To date, seven patients
in Korea and one patient in Canada have been treated in studies.
"We
are excited to offer our patients a new, non-invasive therapy to control their
Parkinson's symptoms," said Howard M. Eisenberg, MD, Chair of Neurosurgery
at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "The neurology community
has made significant strides in helping patients with Parkinson's over the
years; utilization of MR-guided focused ultrasound could help limit the
life-altering side effects like dyskinesia to make the disease more manageable
and less debilitating."
"This
opens up a new frontier for focused ultrasound therapy, building upon previous
research which suggests that focused ultrasound can alleviate essential
tremor," said Jeff Elias, MD, Professor of Neurological Surgery at the
University of Virginia. Dr. Elias led the Focused Ultrasound Foundation-funded
pilot trial which investigated focused ultrasound for essential tremor (ET).
The ET study results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine,
and led to a larger pivotal trial, which was recently completed. In addition,
enrollment has just completed in a pilot study assessing focused ultrasound for
tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease.
The
Parkinson's dyskinesia studies are being conducted using the ExAblate Neuro
system developed by Insightec. "This is another major achievement in the
development of focused ultrasound, which is under investigation to provide less
invasive relief to patients suffering from movement disorders. We congratulate
the teams in Maryland and Virginia for their pioneering spirit and support of
the technology," said Eyal Zadicario, Vice President for R&D and
Director of Insightec's Brain Program.
Funding
for the Parkinson's dyskinesia studies has been provided by the Focused
Ultrasound Foundation and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research, in collaboration with Insightec as regulatory sponsor. Eligible
patients will include those whose medication has failed to satisfactorily
control dyskinesia, who are not candidates for surgery or who choose not to
undergo surgery. If the trials are successful, a large study is planned in
advance of seeking FDA approval and reimbursement of focused ultrasound to
treat Parkinson's disease.
"This
milestone marks an important step forward in the development of focused
ultrasound as an alternative for Parkinson's and other movement disorders as
well as brain tumors," said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell.
"This progress reflects the work of many innovative minds and the
collaboration of several organizations committed to advancing paradigm-shifting
solutions."
Source:
Focused
Ultrasound Foundation
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20150902/Researchers-perform-first-focused-ultrasound-treatments-in-the-US-for-dyskinesia.aspx
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