Trial of subtherapeutic pergolide in de novo Parkinson's disease

Grosset, K., Grosset, D. and Lees, A. (2005) Trial of subtherapeutic pergolide in de novo Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders, 20(3), pp. 363-366. (doi: 10.1002/mds.20361) (PMID:15580607)

Abstract

The effect of pergolide 25 μg twice daily on levodopa initiation was assessed in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, parallel group, double‐blind multicenter trial in 106 untreated early Parkinson's disease patients. The primary endpoint of mean time until levodopa was 520 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 422–618 days) for pergolide versus 434 days (95% CI, 358–609 days) for placebo. However, this increase of 86 days for pergolide was not statistically significant. The wash‐in effect of pergolide was significant at 6 weeks (change in mean Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS] 2 and 3 was −0.1 [95% CI, −1.4 to 1.3] for pergolide vs. 2.2 [95% CI, 1.1–3.3] for placebo). At termination, the change from baseline in mean UPDRS 2 and 3 score was 11.4 (95% CI, 8.8–14) for pergolide and 14.6 (95% CI, 12–17.2) for placebo (P = 0.08). There was no significant change in UPDRS 2 and 3 for the 83 patients achieving the planned 4‐week washout at termination (pergolide 1.2 [95% CI, −0.8 to 3.2] vs. placebo 0.0 [95% CI, −1.6 to 1.6]. Adverse events were infrequent and occurred equally for pergolide and placebo. The study shows no evidence of a neuroprotective effect but indicates a mild symptomatic benefit from pergolide at a dose normally considered subtherapeutic.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Lilly Pharmaceuticals supported the study through a grant to the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Research Group.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Grosset, Dr Katherine and Grosset, Professor Donald
• Authors: Grosset, K., Grosset, D., and Lees, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Movement Disorders
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0885-3185
• ISSN (Online): 1531-8257
• Published Online: 03 December 2004