title: Ropinirole for the treatment of early Parkinson's disease. The Ropinirole Study Group.
abstract: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, 6-month study assessed the efficacy and safety of ropinirole, a nonergoline D2-dopamine agonist, in patients with early Parkinson's disease (n = 241; Hoehn & Yahr stages I to III) with limited or no prior dopaminergic therapy. Patients (mean age, 62.8 years), stratified by concomitant use of selegiline, were randomized to ropinirole (n = 116) or placebo (n = 125). The starting dose of ropinirole was 0.25 mg tid with titration to at least 1.5 mg tid (maximum dose, 8 mg tid). Primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage improvement in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score. Ropinirole-treated patients had a significantly greater percentage improvement in UPDRS motor score than patients who received placebo (+24% vs -3%; p < 0.001). Ropinirole was well tolerated and patient withdrawals were infrequent. Most adverse experiences were related to peripheral dopaminergic activity. Ropinirole monotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for treatment of early Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology of the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hammerstad
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertoni
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Ramos
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007211:Indoles; C046649:ropinirole