King’s College Hospital London in Dubai has heralded new hope for Parkinson’s patients by becoming the first to perform subcutaneous levodopa (fos-levodopa) pump therapy on the youngest Parkinson’s patient in the UAE and the MENA region.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of only 30, the patient lived with the disorder for 14 years and had been entirely dependent on three caregivers for assistance. This treatment marks a giant breakthrough in the care of Parkinson’s patients, granting them new prospective enhancements to the patient’s quality of life.
The Foslevodopa pump therapy was introduced to the Middle East by King’s College Hospital Dubai. The continuous delivery of levodopa through the patient’s skin via this pump resembles that of an insulin pump for diabetes. Dosing of the drug is individualized, according to the needs of that particular patient. The specialists, namely Dr. Vinod Metta and Prof. Ray Chaudhuri, ensure that the therapy suits the condition of the patient. With the foslevodopa pump, patients can regain some of their independence and carry out daily tasks — never mind fasting during Ramadan — that previously, due to their condition, would have posed quite a challenge.
“Personalized care and individualized dosing are critical in Parkinson’s treatment,” commented Dr. Vinod Metta, Consultant Interventional Neurologist and Parkinson’s Specialist at King’s College Hospital London in Dubai. “With the Foslevodopa pump, patients can take back control of the disease, regain their independence, and improve upon their quality of life.”
The procedure was performed at the Parkinson’s Center of Excellence in King’s College Hospital, Dubai, a regional center of excellence for movement disorders. The center offers world-class diagnostic and treatment innovations and multidisciplinary support to Parkinson’s patients and their families while ensuring patient-centered care.
Prof. Ray Chaudhuri, who is the professor of neurology and movement disorders at King’s College Hospital London, said: “This is a defining moment for Parkinson’s care in the area. Foslevodopa is a major step forward in personalized therapy, allowing patients to receive the best possible care.”
King’s Parkinson’s Centre of Excellence: Leading the future of Parkinson’s care
King’s Parkinson’s Centre of Excellence in Dubai is under the aegis of UK-trained Parkinson’s specialists, including Dr. Vinod Metta and Prof. Ray Chaudhuri. The center operates via personalized treatment plans supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists, dieticians, neuroradiologists, and occupational therapists.
Since its founding under Dr. Metta, King’s Parkinson’s Centre of Excellence has treated over 1,000 patients with Parkinson’s across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
For more information about the foslevodopa/foscarbidopa pump treatment, please contact King’s Parkinson’s Centre of Excellence:
Ms. Therese Masagnay: Therese.Masagnay@kch.ae
Ms. Clarissa Sanglian: Clarissa.Sanglian@kch.ae
Research Studies & Clinical Trials Coordinator: Afsal.Nalarakettil@kch.ae
This breakthrough treatment offers new hope for Parkinson’s patients in the UAE and beyond.
