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Dopamine agonists and cardiac valvulopathy in Parkinson disease: A case-control study M Yamamoto, T Uesugi, T Nakamaya Neurology 2006;67:1225-1229 Low-dose pergolide does not increase the risk for cardiac valvulopathy, according to this study. Transthoracic echocardiography and EKG were performed on 210 consecutive PD patients seen at routine clinical visits. Results showed: --patients treated with pergolide (n=66) at a low dose (mean 1.4 mg/day, cumulative dose 2147 mg) had no greater rate of valve disease than controls (PD patients never treated with a dopamine agonist. Frequency of valvulopathy was 29% for patients on pergolide versus 18% in controls (OR 2.18, 95% CI=0.90-5.30, not significant). Pergolide-treated patients were on average 4 years younger, but had been diagnosed for 4.7 years longer, than control patients. --frequency of valve disease in patients treated with cabergoline (n=16) at a mean dose of 3.8 mg/day (cumulative dose 4318 mg) was 69% (OR 12.96, 95% CI=3.59-46.85, p<0.001). --for all patients, 24-hour EKGs were normal, and no patient reported symptoms of clinically significant valve disease. The authors note the daily dose of pergolide used in Japan is lower than that used in the United States ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn