Clinical trials of neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease: long-term selegiline and alpha-tocopherol treatment.
Attempts to lessen the progression of Parkinson's Disease (PD) have made use of 2 strategies: inhibition of monoamine oxidase type B with deprenyl (selegiline) and the free radical trapping agent alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). Clinical trials exploring these possibilities have suggested that deprenyl can alter the natural course of PD, although the mild symptomatic effects produced by this drug confound the analysis of its possible protective actions. Alpha-tocopherol conferred no neuroprotection. Since deprenyl produces a variety of pharmacological effects, the results of the DATATOP and related clinical studies with this drug are subject to several alternative explanations.
LeWitt
P A
PA
Clinical Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, West Bloomfield, MI.
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012642:Selegiline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D012642:Selegiline