Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation improves gastroenteric complaints in Parkinson's disease patients.
BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal dysfunctions are common in Parkinson's disease. Their management is still challenging and new treatment options are needed.


OBJECTIVE
To test whether transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation can improve gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.


METHODS
We performed a randomized double-blind pilot study enrolling patients suffering from Parkinson's disease with gastroenteric complaints. Patients were randomized to use either a sham-device or to stimulate the vagal nerve with an electric device over the course of four weeks with four stimulations per day. Ten patients (aged 69.6±4.6 years) were randomized for the intervention group, and nine patients (aged 67.2±6.3 years) used a sham-device. Clinical outcome was evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale whereas gastrointestinal motility was measured with the 13C-octanoic acid breath test.


RESULTS
In the treatment group, vagal nerve stimulation improved the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale comparing before and after stimulation (before, 8.7±6.09; after 5.67±3.08; p-value 0.48). This improvement was not observed in the sham group (before, 7.44±4.85; after, 5.67±3.08; p-value 0.16). In the 13C-octanoic acid breath test no significant changes were detectable.


CONCLUSIONS
Vagal nerve stimulation is well tolerated with no side effects and may be a promising non-invasive therapy option to improve gastroenteric symptoms in Parkinson's disease.
['Kaut|Oliver|O|', 'Janocha|Laura|L|', 'Weismüller|Tobias J|TJ|', 'Wüllner|Ullrich|U|']
D000368:Aged D004311:Double-Blind Method D005260:Female D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010300:Parkinson Disease D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation Parkinson’s disease delayed gastric emptying