Alpha-dihydroergocryptine in Parkinson's disease: a multicentre randomized double blind parallel group study.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

A multicentre randomized double-blind parallel group study was carried out on 68 patients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with L-dopa for at least 1 year with inadequate therapeutic responsiveness. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of alpha-dihydroergocryptine (alpha-DHEC) vs lisuride as an adjunct therapy to L-dopa on dyskinesias and clinical fluctuations (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS] part IV), on the symptoms pattern (Columbia University Rating Scale [CURS]), on disability (Northwestern University Disability Scale [NUDS]), and to evaluate the incidence of adverse events.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Thirty-two patients (18 males, 14 females with a mean age of 64.5+/-1.5 SEM) were randomized to alpha-dihydroergocryptine and 36 (16 males, 20 females with a mean age of 61.8+/-1.4) to lisuride. The treatment lasted 3 months and the dosage was increased until it reached 60 mg/day of alpha-dihydroergocryptine and 1.2 mg/day of lisuride, while the L-dopa dosage was kept constant in both groups. Per protocol and intention to treat analyses were performed on response variables.

RESULTS:

The adjunctive treatment with the two dopamine agonists determined a significant improvement of PD symptoms in both groups. Alpha-dihydroergocryptine showed a superior efficacy in reducing the clinical complications (P < 0.01 by ANOVA). The number of patients complaining of adverse events was 8 out of 32 (25%) for alpha-dihydroergocryptine and 24/36 (67%) for lisuride (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Alpha-dihydroergocryptine effect seems to be superior to that of lisuride both in terms of reduction of L-dopa therapy long term motor complications (UPDRS part IV) as well as in terms of the incidence and severity of adverse events.

• Authors: L Battistin, P G Bardin, F Ferro-Milone, C Ravenna, V Toso, G Reboldi
• Journal: Acta neurologica Scandinavica (Acta Neurol Scand) Vol. 99 Issue 1 Pg. 36-42 (Jan 1999) ISSN: 0001-6314 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 9925236 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antiparkinson Agents
• Dopamine Agonists
• Dihydroergotoxine
• Levodopa
• Lisuride

Topics

• Aged
• Antiparkinson Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dihydroergotoxine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Disabled Persons
• Dopamine Agonists (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Levodopa (therapeutic use)
• Lisuride (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Movement Disorders (drug therapy)
• Parkinson Disease (drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome