Journal of Pharmacovigilance

An overview of the recent advances in the treatment of Parkinson?s disease

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Trials

October 27-29, 2014 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Swetha E S

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Pharmacovigilance

Abstract:

Parkinson?s Disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative condition. This chronic and progressive disorder is characterised by profound and selective loss of nigrostriatal dopamineric neurons. Nowadays, the disease trends have shifted from communicable to non-communicable and age related diseases. Movement disorders are one amongst them. PD constitutes about 5-60% of the movement disorders varying according to geographical regions and age. Along with classical symptoms of motor impairments involving resting tremors, bradykinesia, postural instability and rigidity, various spectrums of non motor symptoms such as hypophonia, dysphonia, drooling, autonomic dysfunction, dementia and depression are also seen. Both genetic susceptibility and the environmental factors have a combined role in the etiology of PD. At least 10 single gene mutations have been identified. Recently, mitochondrial DNA defects corresponding to complex I abnormality, oxidative damage and ubiquitin proteasome system also have been identified in the pathogenensis of PD. The medications which are used at present although target dopaminergic system, provide only symptomatic relief. Most of them also produce clinical fluctuations as seen with levodopa. None of them halt the progression of the neuronal degeneration. The major hurdle in this regard is the lack of understanding the disease process leading to the death of dopaminergic neurons. In the last decade at least 5 drugs have been approved to treat PD. Presently there are about 37drugs in the pipeline, 23 of them to treat PD, 11 of them to treat the related conditions. PD has been a strong area of research in the field of drug development.

Biography :

Swetha E S has completed her undergraduate degree from Al-Ameen Medical College, Bijapur affiliated to RGUHS, Bangalore. She is presently pursuing postgraduate degree in S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere. She has completed various preclinical and clinical studies namely, evaluation of antidepressant and anti anxiety activities of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors and Drug utilization studies in MICU. Presently she is engaged in a clinical study to see the difference with morning and evening doses of Montelukast in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients. She has published 4 papers in the reputed journals till now.