TITLE:
Alpha-Dihydroergocryptine vs. Pramipexole as Adjunct Symptomatic Treatment of Idiopathic Parkinson’s
AUTHORS:
Ulises Rodríguez Ortiz, Daniel San- Juan, Francesco Scarci
KEYWORDS:
Adjunct Symptomatic Therapy, Alpha-Dihydroergocryptine, Pramipexole, Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Complications, UPDRS
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Parkinson's Disease,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
12,
2015
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