[The value of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor therapy in the serious phases of Alzheimer's disease].
BACKGROUND
The effectiveness of these drugs in the serious stages of the disease has still to be determined. No studies have been published which evaluate the possible influence of pharmacological therapy in patients in the serious stages of Alzheimer type dementia.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to compare the progress of deterioration between patients in serious stages of the disease submitted to treatment with anticholinesterase drugs (ACD) and those who, for some reason, are not currently taking them.


METHODS
A prospective study involving the observation of 20 patients who were diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer s disease (AD) and who presented serious and/or very serious deterioration. A basal evaluation and a five month follow up were conducted. Three scales, which the patients caregivers filled out by means of an interview, were employed: the Katz index, the Holden communication scale and the Clifton behaviour assessment scale.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were found between the scores obtained by patients receiving ACD therapy and those who were not on any of the scales used which proved the value of these drugs in the most serious phases of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Acetylcholinesterase blocking drugs have not proved to be effective in the serious phases of AD. The lack of data based on solid evidence means that we have little idea of the parameters involved in making a decision about whether to interrupt or to continue the treatment in these phases.
Medrano
V
V
Sección de Neurología, Hospital General de Elda, Elda, Alicante, Spain.vivimema@villena.infoville.net
Ferrándiz-López
A
A
Girbes-Borrás
J
J
Mallada-Frachín
J
J
Fernández-Izquierdo
S
S
Piqueras-Rodríguez
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors