Use Of Pramipexole Improves Symptoms=20
In Advanced Parkinson's Patients On Levodopa
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WESTPORT, Jul 17 (Reuters) - Last week, Reuters Health reported on a study
published in JAMA that showed that pramipexole is safe and effective
short-term treatment for patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease.
Researchers in Phoenix, Arizona, now report that use of pramipexole,
administered concurrently with levodopa, improves the management of
patients with advanced Parkinson's disease and allows for a reduction in
levodopa dosage.
Dr. Abraham Lieberman of the St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in
Phoenix and other investigators in the Pramipexole Study Group examined the
efficacy of pramipexole in combination with levodopa in the management of
advanced Parkinson's. Their findings appear in the July issue of Neurology.
Dr. Lieberman's team randomized 306 patients enrolled at 26 centers to
levodopa in combination with either pramipexole or placebo for the 32-week
trial.
The Arizona group discovered that "...pramipexole, when administered
concurrently with levodopa, improves patients with advanced [Parkinson's
disease] and levodopa-induced motor fluctuations."
Pramipexole improved motor function during both the so-called "on" and
"off" periods associated with levodopa use, decreased the overall amount of
time spent in "off" periods by 31% and reduced the severity of "off"=
periods.
Pramipexole was specifically effective in improving resting tremor,
rigidity, and limb bradykinesia, according to Dr. Lieberman and colleagues.
Moreover, "...addition of pramipexole resulted in a 27% reduction in the
dosage of levodopa."
The Pramipexole Study Group investigators conclude that "...pramipexole is
an effective and safe treatment for all stages of [Parkinson's disease]
from early to advanced, can be used alone or in combination with levodopa,
and appears to be as effective as bromocriptine, pergolide, and=
cabergoline."
Neurology 1997;49:162-168.
Copyright =A9 1997 Reuters Limited.
>http://www.reutershealth.com/news/docs/199707/19970717clb.html
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