Alpha-Dihydroergocryptine vs. Pramipexole as Adjunct Symptomatic Treatment of Idiopathic Parkinson’s - Advances in Parkinson's Disease

APD > Vol.4 No.1, February 2015

Alpha-Dihydroergocryptine vs. Pramipexole as Adjunct Symptomatic Treatment of Idiopathic Parkinson’s ()

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DOI: 10.4236/apd.2015.41001 3,831 Downloads 4,821 Views

Author(s)

Ulises Rodríguez Ortiz¹, Daniel San- Juan¹, Francesco Scarci^2*

Affiliation(s)

¹Movement Disorders Clinic and Neurophysiology Department, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, Mexico.
²Scientific Department, Polichem S.A., Lugano, Switzerland.

ABSTRACT

A randomized, double blind, and active reference-controlled study was carried out among 116 patients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of the study was to compare the safety and efficacy of alpha-dihydroergocryptine (DHEC) vs. pramipexole (PRAM) as an adjunct symptomatic therapy to levodopa in PD patients. The motor symptoms, assessed by the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III subscale, was identified as efficacy target. Fifty-six patients were randomized to DHEC and 60 to PRAM. Patients included were under constant levodopa dose for at least 3 months before entering the study, with baseline UPDRS III ≥14. They underwent a 16-week treatment. Out of the 116 included patients, 85 (39 in DHEC group and 46 in PRAM group, respectively) completed the study protocol. In DHEC group, UPDRS III decreased by 24.2% from baseline at week 10 and by 28.1% at week 16. In PRAM group, UPDRS III decreased by 27.1% from baseline at week 10 and by 29.2% at week 16. The data were highly significant (p < 0.01) at each time point versus baseline, while no significant difference was noticed between treatments. Overall, the patient population did not show any clinically meaningful mood disturbances at baseline and the fluctuations of UPDRS I during treatment were devoid of clinical significance. Safety was fairly good in both groups. In conclusion, DHEC and PRAM proved to be effective and safe as adjunct therapy to levodopa in idiopathic PD. According to the research result, they have significantly improved the motor function of our patients.

KEYWORDS

Adjunct Symptomatic Therapy, Alpha-Dihydroergocryptine, Pramipexole, Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Complications, UPDRS

Share and Cite:

Ortiz, U. , Juan, D. and Scarci, F. (2015) Alpha-Dihydroergocryptine vs. Pramipexole as Adjunct Symptomatic Treatment of Idiopathic Parkinson’s. Advances in Parkinson's Disease, 4, 1-8. doi: 10.4236/apd.2015.41001.

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