title: Long-term efficacy and safety of pramipexole in advanced Parkinson's disease: results from a European multicenter trial.
abstract: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a subsequent open-label phase was conducted in 354 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and motor fluctuations under individually adjusted therapy with levodopa. During the double-blind phase 174 patients received pramipexole and 180 placebo. In agreement with previous studies, pramipexole treatment improved UPDRS sum scores of parts II and III by 30% and off times by approximately 2.5 hours per day. Differences between the treatment groups became significant at a daily dose of 0.75 mg of pramipexole dihydrochloride. We, furthermore, performed post hoc analyses with respect to resting tremor and depression. Patients with pronounced resting tremor derived a clear benefit from pramipexole treatment compared with placebo. In addition, pramipexole significantly improved the subitems motivation/initiative and depression in a subpopulation with increased Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale I scores at the time of inclusion. There were 262 patients who were subsequently enrolled into the open-label study featuring a maximum duration of up to 57 months. Statistical analysis revealed good long-term efficacy and tolerability of pramipexole. Overall, only a low prevalence of somnolence was found. In summary, this study provides additional level I evidence of the usefulness of pramipexole, suggests a particular tremorlytic and a possible antidepressant action of this compound, and addresses for the first time its efficacy and safety during long-term administration in advanced PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J Carsten
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Wolfgang H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oertel
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Köster
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pezzoli
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Provinciali
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000077487:Pramipexole; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014202:Tremor / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077487:Pramipexole