Efficacy and safety of high-dose cabergoline in Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and safety of high-dose (up to 20 mg/day) cabergoline in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with motor fluctuations and/or dyskinesias.


METHODS
Thirty-four PD patients had cabergoline up-titrated and their levodopa (L-dopa) reduced over a maximum of 20 weeks, followed by at least 6 weeks steady cabergoline dosing. Primary endpoint was change in mean hyperkinesia intensity at the final visit (week 26).


RESULTS
Mean (+/- SD) cabergoline was increased from 6.43 +/- 2.66 to 12.78 +/- 5.67 mg/day and mean L-dopa reduced from 606.6 +/- 263.9 to 370.6 +/- 192.5 mg/day. A significant reduction (P < 0.001) in mean hyperkinesia intensity occurred from baseline (day 0) to week 26. Improvements in 'on with dyskinesias', mean dystonia intensity (P < 0.05), time spent in 'severe off' condition, severity of 'off' periods as well as clinical/patient global impression, and health-related quality of life were observed. Twenty-four drug-related adverse events were recorded of which four were regarded as serious.


CONCLUSIONS
High-dose cabergoline was well tolerated and provided significant improvements in the Parkinson symptomatology and a reduced requirement for L-dopa.
Odin
P
P
Department of Neurology, Central Hospital, D-27574 Bremerhaven, Germany. per.odin@zkr.de
Oehlwein
C
C
Storch
A
A
Polzer
U
U
Werner
G
G
Renner
R
R
Shing
M
M
Ludolph
A
A
Schüler
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D000077465:Cabergoline; D002396:Catechols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D004421:Dystonia / Q000517:prevention & control; D004873:Ergolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012642:Selegiline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D002396:Catechols; D004873:Ergolines; D009570:Nitriles; D010880:Piperidines; D012642:Selegiline; D007980:Levodopa; C071192:entacapone; D000547:Amantadine; C026710:budipine; D000077465:Cabergoline