Parkinson Disease (outpatient + chronic)
Encounter flow
12/12 authoredCanonical 12-phase frame with authored status for this dossier.
Frame
Insidious-onset adult-onset parkinsonism with bradykinesia + rest tremor / rigidity meeting MDS 2015 clinical criteria; rule out drug-induced + vascular + atypical (MSA/PSP/CBD) (Postuma PMID 26474316)
MDS clinical criteria met — proceed to phenotype assignment
Patient inputs (19)
Mean age of onset ~60; <50 = young-onset PD; <40 = early-onset (consider monogenic — LRRK2, GBA, parkin) (MDS 2015)
Rest tremor is MDS 2015 supportive criterion; absent = re-evaluate phenotype (akinetic-rigid)
Lying-standing BP — severe OH (drop >30/15 within 3 min) early = red flag for MSA; mild OH is common in advanced PD
Recent (within 6 mo) dopamine-blocker exposure (haloperidol / risperidone / metoclopramide / prochlorperazine / valproate) = drug-induced parkinsonism mimic (MDS 2015 absolute exclusion if current)
Asymmetric onset is MDS 2015 supportive criterion; symmetric onset = red flag for atypical parkinsonism
MDS 2015 red flags: rapid gait freezing in first 5 y, no progression motor for 5 y, early bulbar/respiratory dysfunction, cerebellar/pyramidal signs, autonomic failure within 5 y, severe symmetric onset, falls within 3 y, anterocollis/dystonia → consider MSA/PSP/CBD
MDS 2015 absolute exclusions: cerebellar abnormalities, downward vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, behavioural-variant FTD/PPA in first 5 y, parkinsonism restricted to lower limbs >3 y, treatment with neuroleptic at compatible dose, normal DAT-SPECT, alternative cause demonstrated → NOT idiopathic PD
Insidious (months-years) onset distinguishes PD from vascular parkinsonism or stroke (sudden) (MDS 2015 Postuma PMID 26474316)
Definite + sustained levodopa response (≥30% improvement) is MDS 2015 supportive criterion 1; lack of response = red flag for MSA/PSP/CBD
Existing carbidopa-levodopa / DA / MAO-B / COMT / amantadine regimen drives wearing-off / dyskinesia / OH management
Rule out vascular parkinsonism, NPH, hydrocephalus, tumor; hot-cross-bun sign → MSA-C; midbrain atrophy "hummingbird" → PSP
DaTscan distinguishes degenerative parkinsonism from essential tremor / drug-induced (presynaptic dopamine transporter loss); MDS 2015 supportive
Exclude thyroid dysfunction as tremor / cognitive mimic
B12 deficiency mimics dementia component; long-term levodopa associated with hyperhomocysteinemia (consider supplementation)
Impulse-control disorder (gambling, hypersexuality, compulsive shopping/eating) on dopamine agonists — screen at every visit; QUIP-RS scale
Wearing-off + dyskinesias mark advanced PD — drives extended-release / DBS / apomorphine decisions (MD 2021 review PMID 30673543)
MoCA <26 with PD ≥1 y after motor onset → PD dementia per MDS criteria; rivastigmine indication (EXPRESS PMID 15590953)
FOG questionnaire; severe FOG → consider DBS, amantadine ER, methylphenidate (off-label)
Visual hallucinations + delusions → PD psychosis; first-line pimavanserin (Cummings NEJM 2014 PMID 24183563); AVOID haloperidol / risperidone / olanzapine
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Severity triggers (16)
- informationalseverepigd_phenotype_high_fall_riskPIGD phenotype — postural instability + gait disorder + freezing predominant; high fall risk; consider PSP if falls within 3 y of onsetTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseveremsa_suspected_early_severe_ohMSA suspected — early (within 5 y of motor onset) severe autonomic failure (OH, urinary retention/incontinence, ED), cerebellar features, pyramidal signs, anterocollis, or poor levodopa response (MDS criteria 2015)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverepsp_suspected_early_falls_supranuclear_gazePSP suspected — falls within 3 y of onset + vertical (especially downward) supranuclear gaze palsy + axial rigidity + cognitive/behavioral changes (MDS criteria 2015)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverecbd_suspected_asymmetric_apraxiaCBD suspected — asymmetric apraxia + alien-limb + cortical sensory loss + asymmetric rigidity + myoclonus + poor levodopa responseTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalsevereadvanced_pd_motor_fluctuations_dyskinesiasAdvanced PD — wearing-off + dyskinesias + off-time >2 h/day refractory to oral combos; candidate for device-assisted therapy (DBS, LCIG, foslevodopa-foscarbidopa) (MD 2021 review PMID 30673543)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverepure_freezing_of_gait_severeSevere freezing of gait — on or off; refractory to medication adjustments; high fall riskTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseveresevere_orthostatic_hypotension_pdSevere OH — drop ≥30/15 within 3 min lying-to-standing with recurrent syncope; if EARLY (<5 y) suspect MSATrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverepd_dementia_moca_lowPD dementia — MoCA <26 with PD ≥1 y after motor onset (MDS criteria Emre 2007); rivastigmine indicated (EXPRESS Emre NEJM 2004 PMID 15590953)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseveredbs_candidate_refractory_motorDBS candidate — refractory motor fluctuations + preserved levodopa response + cognition intact + multidisciplinary review (Williams NEJM 2014 PMID 20519680)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderateakinetic_rigid_pdAkinetic-rigid phenotype — bradykinesia + rigidity without prominent tremor; faster motor + cognitive decline; consider atypical parkinsonism if severe (MDS 2015)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderateimpulse_control_disorder_on_daImpulse-control disorder on dopamine agonist — gambling / hypersexuality / compulsive shopping / binge eating; QUIP-RS positiveTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderatepd_psychosis_visual_hallucinationsPD psychosis — visual hallucinations, illusions, delusions (often paranoid); affects 30-50% of advanced PD; AVOID typical antipsychotics (Cummings NEJM 2014 PMID 24183563)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderatepd_treatment_efficacy_quantifiedQuantified PD treatment-efficacy data: (1) LEVODOPA is the most effective motor drug — LEAP (Verschuur NEJM 2019 PMID 30673543, n=445) showed early vs delayed carbidopa-levodopa UPDRS change −1.0 vs −2.0 pts at 80 wk (diff 1.0, 95% CI −1.5 to 3.5, P=0.44): no disease-modifying effect AND no harm from early start → symptom-driven initiation (do NOT delay levodopa for "neuroprotection"). (2) RIVASTIGMINE for PD-dementia — EXPRESS (Emre NEJM 2004 PMID 15590953, n=541): ADAS-cog +2.1 vs −0.7 placebo (P<0.001), ADCS-CGIC improvement 19.8% vs 14.5%; adverse nausea 29% / vomiting 16.6% / tremor 10.2% (vs placebo) → patch lowers GI burden. (3) PIMAVANSERIN for PD psychosis — Cummings Lancet 2014 PMID 24183563 (n=199): SAPS-PD −5.79 vs −2.73 (diff −3.06, P=0.001, Cohen d 0.50), no motor worsening. (4) DBS — Follett NEJM 2010 PMID 20519680 (n=299): STN vs GPi motor-UPDRS-III change EQUIVALENT (P=0.50); STN lower dopaminergic dose (P=0.02) but worse visuomotor processing (P=0.03) + worse mood (P=0.02) → GPi when cognition/mood is a concern. (5) RASAGILINE — ADAGIO (Olanow NEJM 2009 PMID 19776408, n=1176): 1 mg met all 3 disease-modification endpoints but 2 mg did NOT → claim NOT robust; symptomatic MAO-Bi only.Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderatepd_special_population_dataSpecial-population PD data. ELDERLY: start-low-go-slow carbidopa-levodopa (LEAP confirms no penalty for levodopa-first); AVOID anticholinergics (trihexyphenidyl/benztropine — Beers: cognitive impairment + falls); dopamine agonists carry ICD + visual-hallucination + sleep-attack + orthostatic-hypotension risk → prefer levodopa-first in older/cognitively-frail patients (STOPP). DLB / NEUROLEPTIC SENSITIVITY: severe (potentially fatal) sensitivity to typical and MOST atypical antipsychotics — ONLY quetiapine / clozapine (or pimavanserin) acceptable; AVOID haloperidol / risperidone / olanzapine / aripiprazole (McKeith DLB 4th consensus PMID 28592453); the "1-year rule" (dementia before/within 1 y of motor onset = DLB, not PD-dementia) drives this gate. RENAL: amantadine renally cleared — reduce/avoid in low eGFR (confusion / livedo reticularis / leg oedema). HEPATIC: MAO-Bi (rasagiline/selegiline) + COMT inhibitor hepatic-metabolism considerations. PREGNANCY: rare in PD (mean onset ~60 y); if it occurs carbidopa-levodopa is the least-data-poor option, dopamine agonists/amantadine generally avoided (data — no RCT anchor, conservative). DEPRESCRIBING/ICD: dopamine-agonist impulse-control disorder is REVERSIBLE on DA dose reduction → cross-taper toward levodopa-based regimen (do NOT up-titrate the DA).Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmildtremor_dominant_pdTremor-dominant phenotype — prominent unilateral rest tremor (4-6 Hz) with minimal axial / gait features; better long-term motor prognosis (MDS 2015 Postuma PMID 26474316)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmildpd_bayesian_differential_layer§5.5.2 Bayesian differential layer (DEPTH-PASS-2 2026-05-18): the diagnostic discrimination is encoded in prisma/seed/ros-and-ddx/neuro.parkinson.v1.{ros,differentials,finding-lrs}.ts (auto-registered by readdir) — 16 ROS items, 10 differentials with sourced pre-test priors (idiopathic PD 0.69 [Postuma 2018 validation PMID 30145797: 434/626], drug-induced parkinsonism 0.07 [de Germay 2019 PMID 31865063: 2nd most common cause], MSA 0.04, PSP 0.05, CBD 0.02, DLB 0.05, vascular 0.04, essential tremor 0.06, NPH 0.02, Wilson 0.01), and 31 finding×diagnosis LR rows. PD-defining axis carries LR+ ≥15 (MDS clinically-established pattern LR+ ≈ 37 [59.3% PD vs 1.6% non-PD]; sustained excellent levodopa response LR+ ≈ 17; abnormal DaTSCAN LR+ ≈ 14.5 [Perlaki 2016 PMID 27290659 sens 97/spec 93.3]) with the negative side reaching 1/LR− ≈ 16 (adequate-trial levodopa-non-response + normal DaTSCAN). Atypical pivots: MSA early-autonomic-failure LR+ 15 (Gilman PMID 18725592), PSP vertical-gaze-palsy LR+ 20 (Hoglinger PMID 28467028), CBD cortical-sensory/alien-limb LR+ 18 (Armstrong PMID 23359374), ET normal-DaTSCAN LR+ 30. 4 conditional-dependency notes (levodopa-response | adequate dose+duration; rest-vs-action single tremor axis; DaTSCAN does NOT separate PD from MSA/PSP/CBD; RBD scored once at synucleinopathy-class level). Cross-dossier routing (verified on disk): symptom.falls.v1, neuro.vascular-dementia.v1, neuro.alzheimer.v1.Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
Workflow calculators
Run this disease's risk and dosing calculators inline.
Recommended regimen
PD motor management — symptom-driven start + advanced motor fluctuation strategy (MDS 2015 + LEAP PMID 30673543)- carbidopa-levodopafirst linedopamine_precursor_combo25/100 mg PO ½ tab TID with meals; titrate to 1-2 tabs TID over 4 wk • PO • TID-QID (max: Highly individualised — typically 600-1500 mg levodopa/day; advanced disease 2000+)triggers: motor_symptoms_impair_adl, age_>=65_or_function_firstMost efficacious motor agent; LEAP (Mendis NEJM 2019) — early start does NOT worsen course; preferred over DA in older or functionally limited patients per MD 2021 review PMID 30673543rxcui 103990
- pramipexolefirst linedopamine_agonist_non_ergot0.125 mg PO TID; titrate weekly to 0.5-1.5 mg TID • PO • TID (max: 4.5 mg/day)triggers: younger_patient, delay_dyskinesia_strategyYounger patients may favour DA to delay levodopa-induced dyskinesia; CAUTION — ICD risk (gambling/hypersexuality/binge eating) — screen at every visit (QUIP-RS); also OH + somnolence + sleep attacks driving riskrxcui 236747
- ropinirolefirst linedopamine_agonist_non_ergot0.25 mg PO TID; titrate weekly to 1-8 mg TID • PO • TID (max: 24 mg/day)triggers: younger_patient, pramipexole_intoleranceAlternative non-ergot DA; same ICD/somnolence cautionsrxcui 236553
outpatient playbook — drug actions (10)
- 1. carbidopa-levodopaSymptom-driven start 25/100 ½-1 tab TID; titrate • PO • TID-QID; advanced 5-6 doses/dtrigger: Motor symptoms impair functionLEAP PMID 30673543 — most efficacious; no harm with early start
- 2. pramipexole / ropinirolePramipexole 0.125 mg TID titrate; ropinirole 0.25 mg TID titrate • PO • TIDtrigger: Younger patient; delay dyskinesia strategyLess dyskinesia long-term; ICD + somnolence cautions
- 3. rasagiline 1 mg daily1 mg PO daily • PO • dailytrigger: Early monotherapy or wearing-off adjunctADAGIO PMID 19776408; symptomatic
- 4. amantadine ER 137-274 mg HS137-274 mg PO HS • PO • HStrigger: Levodopa-induced dyskinesiaEASE-LID 1/2 reduces dyskinesia ~50%
- 5. pimavanserin 34 mg daily34 mg PO daily • PO • dailytrigger: PD psychosis (visual hallucinations + delusions)Cummings NEJM 2014 PMID 24183563; no D2 blockade
- 6. rivastigmine3-6 mg BID PO or 4.6-9.5 mg/24h patch • PO or transdermal • BID or patch dailytrigger: PD dementia (MoCA <26 with PD ≥1 y motor)EXPRESS PMID 15590953
- 7. sertraline25-200 mg PO daily • PO • dailytrigger: PHQ-9 ≥10PD depression first-line; avoid TCA/paroxetine (anticholinergic)
- 8. midodrine + fludrocortisone + droxidopaMidodrine 2.5-10 TID; fludro 0.1-0.3 daily; droxidopa 100-600 TID • PO • TID + daily + TIDtrigger: Symptomatic OHStepwise OH management; supine HTN risk
- 9. melatonin 3-12 mg HS3-12 mg PO HS • PO • HStrigger: RBD with dream enactmentSafer than clonazepam in elderly
- 10. macrogol PEG 17 g daily17 g PO daily • PO • dailytrigger: Chronic constipation60-80% prevalence; precipitates delirium + falls
Auto-drafted A&P note
outpatientSubjective
- Possible entry pathways: Unilateral 4-6 Hz rest tremor improving with movement (MDS 2015 Postuma PMID 26474316); Bradykinesia — decrement / fatiguing on repetitive finger/foot tapping (MDS 2015 cardinal feature); Asymmetric cogwheel rigidity (MDS 2015 supportive).
Objective
- No vitals, labs, or imaging entered for this encounter.
Assessment
**Parkinson Disease (outpatient + chronic)** (neuro.parkinson.v1). Phenotype framing: Phenotype assignment: tremor-dominant vs akinetic-rigid vs PIGD; rule out MSA (early severe OH, cerebellar signs, anterocollis), PSP (early falls + supranuclear gaze palsy + axial rigidity), CBD (asymmetric apraxia + alien-limb + cortical sensory loss), DLB (visual hallucinations within 1 y of motor + fluctuating cognition), vascular parkinsonism (lower-body predominance + cerebrovascular RFs + step-wise progression on imaging), drug-induced (symmetric + recent neuroleptic/metoclopramide), NPH (gait + cognition + incontinence + ventriculomegaly) Scope: Insidious-onset adult-onset parkinsonism with bradykinesia + rest tremor / rigidity meeting MDS 2015 clinical criteria; rule out drug-induced + vascular + atypical (MSA/PSP/CBD) (Postuma PMID 26474316) No severity triggers fired against current inputs.
Plan
Regimen axis: **PD motor management — symptom-driven start + advanced motor fluctuation strategy (MDS 2015 + LEAP PMID 30673543)** — step "Step 1 — Symptomatic start (motor symptoms impair function); LEAP supports start-when-needed strategy (Mendis NEJM 2019 PMID 30673543)". 1. carbidopa-levodopa 25/100 mg PO ½ tab TID with meals; titrate to 1-2 tabs TID over 4 wk PO TID-QID (dopamine_precursor_combo, first line) — Most efficacious motor agent; LEAP (Mendis NEJM 2019) — early start does NOT worsen course; preferred over DA in older or functionally limited patients per MD 2021 review PMID 30673543 2. pramipexole 0.125 mg PO TID; titrate weekly to 0.5-1.5 mg TID PO TID (dopamine_agonist_non_ergot, first line) — Younger patients may favour DA to delay levodopa-induced dyskinesia; CAUTION — ICD risk (gambling/hypersexuality/binge eating) — screen at every visit (QUIP-RS); also OH + somnolence + sleep attacks driving risk 3. ropinirole 0.25 mg PO TID; titrate weekly to 1-8 mg TID PO TID (dopamine_agonist_non_ergot, first line) — Alternative non-ergot DA; same ICD/somnolence cautions Setting playbook (outpatient) — Primary care setting — comprehensive PD management q3-6 mo: motor + non-motor inventory, med titration, ICD/QUIP screen, MoCA, PHQ-9, OH workup, fall + driving safety, advance directives, caregiver support, DBS candidacy re-evaluation, hospice planning when appropriate 4. carbidopa-levodopa Symptom-driven start 25/100 ½-1 tab TID; titrate PO TID-QID; advanced 5-6 doses/d — Motor symptoms impair function (LEAP PMID 30673543 — most efficacious; no harm with early start) 5. pramipexole / ropinirole Pramipexole 0.125 mg TID titrate; ropinirole 0.25 mg TID titrate PO TID — Younger patient; delay dyskinesia strategy (Less dyskinesia long-term; ICD + somnolence cautions) 6. rasagiline 1 mg daily 1 mg PO daily PO daily — Early monotherapy or wearing-off adjunct (ADAGIO PMID 19776408; symptomatic) 7. amantadine ER 137-274 mg HS 137-274 mg PO HS PO HS — Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (EASE-LID 1/2 reduces dyskinesia ~50%) 8. pimavanserin 34 mg daily 34 mg PO daily PO daily — PD psychosis (visual hallucinations + delusions) (Cummings NEJM 2014 PMID 24183563; no D2 blockade) 9. rivastigmine 3-6 mg BID PO or 4.6-9.5 mg/24h patch PO or transdermal BID or patch daily — PD dementia (MoCA <26 with PD ≥1 y motor) (EXPRESS PMID 15590953) 10. sertraline 25-200 mg PO daily PO daily — PHQ-9 ≥10 (PD depression first-line; avoid TCA/paroxetine (anticholinergic)) 11. midodrine + fludrocortisone + droxidopa Midodrine 2.5-10 TID; fludro 0.1-0.3 daily; droxidopa 100-600 TID PO TID + daily + TID — Symptomatic OH (Stepwise OH management; supine HTN risk) 12. melatonin 3-12 mg HS 3-12 mg PO HS PO HS — RBD with dream enactment (Safer than clonazepam in elderly) 13. macrogol PEG 17 g daily 17 g PO daily PO daily — Chronic constipation (60-80% prevalence; precipitates delirium + falls) Non-pharmacologic actions: - LSVT-BIG (PT) + LSVT-LOUD (SLP) referral at diagnosis + annually - Aerobic exercise prescription 150 min/wk moderate intensity (AAN Class I) - Tai chi + dance + boxing programs (community) - Cueing strategies for FOG (visual lines, metronome, counting, attentional focus) - Home safety review (PT/OT) - Driving evaluation per state + functional decline → driving cessation - Caregiver education + respite resources - Support groups (APDA, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Parkinson Foundation) - Sleep hygiene + sleep study if STOP-BANG ≥3 or RBD severe - Nutrition counseling (protein redistribution if levodopa absorption issue; high-fiber for constipation) - Bone health: DEXA at diagnosis + q2 y; vitamin D + calcium; bisphosphonate if osteoporosis - Annual influenza + pneumococcal + COVID + RSV vaccinations - DBS candidacy re-evaluation q12-24 mo (Williams NEJM 2014 PMID 20519680) - Goals of care discussions annually + palliative care integration (MDS palliative care position 2017) - Hospice referral when Hoehn-Yahr 5 + dementia + bed-bound + recurrent aspiration AVOID / contraindication checks: - AVOID_haloperidol_risperidone_olanzapine_in_PD_psychosis (D2 blockade worsens motor; pimavanserin preferred — Cummings NEJM 2014 PMID 24183563) - AVOID_metoclopramide_prochlorperazine_in_PD (D2 antiemetics worsen motor; use ondansetron or trimethobenzamide) - NEVER_abrupt_stop_PD_meds (NMS risk — must taper or substitute when NPO; rotigotine patch for NPO) - DBS_requires_cognitive_screen_and_neuropsych (executive dysfunction or dementia worsens with STN — favor GPi if cognitive concern; Williams NEJM 2014 PMID 20519680) - Apomorphine_no_5HT3_antagonists (ondansetron/granisetron combo causes severe hypotension; use trimethobenzamide pre med) - Dopamine_agonist_ICD_screen_every_visit (QUIP RS; counsel patient + family; reduce/discontinue if positive) - Rasagiline_selegiline_tyramine_meperidine_SSRI_interactions (MAO B caution at higher doses; food tyramine concern less than non selective) - Droxidopa_midodrine_supine_HTN (counsel HOB elevation; avoid dose ≥4 h before bed)
Monitoring
Regimen monitoring: - Motor + non-motor inventory q3-6 mo (MDS-UPDRS Parts I-IV) - Hoehn-Yahr + Schwab-England ADL at every visit - MoCA annually; sooner if cognitive complaint (rivastigmine threshold PDD) - PHQ-9 + anxiety screen q6 mo - QUIP-RS (ICD screen) at every visit if on DA - Orthostatic BP at every visit (severe OH = MSA red flag) - Sleep questionnaire (RBD, OSA, EDS) annually - Driving evaluation per state law + clinician judgment - CBC q3 mo if on clozapine per REMS - CK + vitals if recent neuroleptic change → rule out NMS - B12 + homocysteine annually on long-term levodopa Setting (outpatient) monitoring: - Movement disorders clinic q3-6 mo - Med titration as needed - Annual neuropsychiatric battery if cognitive change - Quarterly orthostatic BP if OH - Quarterly ICD screen (QUIP-RS) if on DA - Annual PDQ-39 + Hoehn-Yahr Follow-up plan: Annual functional / cognitive / mood / autonomic review; revisit DBS candidacy q12-24 mo if disease progresses; revisit driving safety; goals-of-care for advanced PD; hospice referral when Hoehn-Yahr 5 + bed-bound + dementia + aspiration risk; palliative-care integration earlier (MDS palliative care position 2017) - Close-out criterion: Long-term plan documented + caregiver supported Monitoring phase: Q3-6 mo movement disorders clinic; med titration; ICD screen at every DA visit (QUIP-RS); MoCA q12 mo; mood screen (PHQ-9); OH BP log; sleep questionnaire (RBD, OSA, EDS); driving evaluation; advance directives; caregiver support
Disposition
Current setting: outpatient — Primary care setting — comprehensive PD management q3-6 mo: motor + non-motor inventory, med titration, ICD/QUIP screen, MoCA, PHQ-9, OH workup, fall + driving safety, advance directives, caregiver support, DBS candidacy re-evaluation, hospice planning when appropriate Disposition criteria: - Continue indefinite PD management; transition to palliative/hospice when life-limiting features - Refer to subspecialty MD clinic if available (movement disorders fellow + neuropsych + PT/OT/SLP + social work) Escalation triggers (move to higher acuity): - Acute decompensation (NMS, severe psychosis, aspiration, fall with injury) → ED - Severe motor fluctuations refractory to oral combos → DBS referral or LCIG / Vyalev - Severe psychosis refractory to pimavanserin + quetiapine → clozapine consult - Severe OH with syncope → urgent autonomic workup + droxidopa - ICD positive (QUIP-RS) → reduce/discontinue DA, switch to levodopa - Severe RBD with injury → clonazepam carefully or melatonin escalation - Cognitive decline interfering with function → rivastigmine + driving cessation + caregiver intensification
Earlier-Return Triggers
Return-precaution thresholds (watch for): - [SEVERE] PIGD phenotype — postural instability + gait disorder + freezing predominant; high fall risk; consider PSP if falls within 3 y of onset - [SEVERE] MSA suspected — early (within 5 y of motor onset) severe autonomic failure (OH, urinary retention/incontinence, ED), cerebellar features, pyramidal signs, anterocollis, or poor levodopa response (MDS criteria 2015) - [SEVERE] PSP suspected — falls within 3 y of onset + vertical (especially downward) supranuclear gaze palsy + axial rigidity + cognitive/behavioral changes (MDS criteria 2015)
Citations
- 2015 MDS Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for PD (Postuma, Mov Disord 2015;30:1591-601) + MDS prodromal criteria 2015/2019 (Berg/Heinzel) + MDS criteria validation (Postuma 2018) + AAN-aligned therapy landmark RCTs (LEAP, ADAGIO, Follett STN-vs-GPi DBS, EXPRESS rivastigmine, Cummings pimavanserin) + MSA/PSP/DLB/CBD diagnostic-criteria consensus statements [PMID:26474316](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26474316/) - Cited evidence (PMID 26474317) [PMID:26474317](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26474317/) - Cited evidence (PMID 31412427) [PMID:31412427](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31412427/) - Cited evidence (PMID 30145797) [PMID:30145797](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30145797/) - Cited evidence (PMID 30673543) [PMID:30673543](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30673543/) Last reconciled with current guidelines: 2026-05-26.
- 2015 MDS Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for PD (Postuma, Mov Disord 2015;30:1591-601) + MDS prodromal criteria 2015/2019 (Berg/Heinzel) + MDS criteria validation (Postuma 2018) + AAN-aligned therapy landmark RCTs (LEAP, ADAGIO, Follett STN-vs-GPi DBS, EXPRESS rivastigmine, Cummings pimavanserin) + MSA/PSP/DLB/CBD diagnostic-criteria consensus statements — PMID:26474316
- Cited evidence (PMID 26474317) — PMID:26474317
- Cited evidence (PMID 31412427) — PMID:31412427
- Cited evidence (PMID 30145797) — PMID:30145797
- Cited evidence (PMID 30673543) — PMID:30673543