Neurostimulation for Parkinson's Disease with Early Motor Complications

To the Editor: In their clinical trial, Schuepbach et al. (Feb. 14 issue) 1 found an overall gain of 8.0 points in quality of life in the neurostimulation group (P=0.002), as assessed by means of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) summary index. This may be a magnification of the benefits, because infection related to deep-brain stimulation causes a substantial reduction in quality of life. However, this variable is not included in the PDQ-39 summary index. According to different studies, 2 , 3 rates of infection related to deep-brain stimulation vary from 3.8% to 12.6%. From 1996 through 2012, at our institution, 130 patients . . .