December 2008
Merello M
Although often less recognized than motor symptoms, non-motor effects
represent an important source of disability for many parkinsonian
patients. Of these non-motor symptoms, sialorrhoea, defined as the
inability to control oral secretions resulting in excessive saliva
accumulation in the oropharynx, constitutes perhaps one of the most
bothersome and troubling problems, often causing social embarrassment
and isolation. In patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), this symptom
is thought to be due to restricted swallowing and dysfunction, rather
than to hypersecretion of saliva.
Only a few well designed studies have
been conducted to determine the optimal treatment for sialorrhoea in PD.
A combination of approaches appears to be necessary to obtain
successful results.
