Efficacy of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus versus globus pallidus internus on sensory complaints

Maria Gabriela S Ghilardi; Ana Carolina P Campos; Rubens G Cury; Raquel C R Martinez; Rosana L Pagano; Erich T Fonoff

doi:10.1038/s41531-024-00689-z

Efficacy of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus versus globus pallidus internus on sensory complaints

NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2024 Mar 29;10(1):73. doi: 10.1038/s41531-024-00689-z.

Authors

Maria Gabriela S Ghilardi¹, Ana Carolina P Campos², Rubens G Cury^{3

4}, Raquel C R Martinez^{2

5}, Rosana L Pagano⁶, Erich T Fonoff¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Laboratory of Neuroscience, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Movement Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁴ Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ LIM/23, Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁶ Laboratory of Neuroscience, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. rosana.lpagano@hsl.org.br.

Abstract

Pain control after deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. Following six months, subthalamic (STN)-DBS reduced sensory complaints related to parkinsonism and bodily discomfort, increasing central beta-endorphin level. Pallidal GPi-DBS decreased bodily discomfort and beta-endorphin levels. Unexplained pain by other conditions and bodily discomfort were negatively correlated with beta-endorphin levels. Thus, DBS regulates central opioids, and prioritizing STN is important for PD patients with significant sensory complications.