Continued efficacy and safety of subcutaneous apomorphine in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.
The study purpose was to assess the efficacy of intermittent subcutaneous apomorphine (APO) as acute therapy for off episodes in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who had previously received APO for 3 months. Patients (n=62) were randomized to receive double-blind treatment with APO at their typically effective dose (TED; APO), APO at their TED+0.2mL (2.0mg; APO+2), placebo at volume equal to their TED (PL), or placebo at volume equal to their TED+0.2mL (PL+2), for a single off episode. Significantly greater improvement in mean Unified PD rating scale motor scores was seen with pooled APO versus pooled placebo 20min after administration (-24.2 vs. -7.4; p<0.0001); the difference was also significant at 10min (p<0.0001). Overall adverse event incidence did not significantly differ between pooled APO and pooled PL. This study supports the long-term use of intermittent APO as effective acute therapy for off episodes in advanced PD patients.
Pfeiffer
Ronald F
RF
Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA. rpeiffer@utmem.edu
Gutmann
Ludwig
L
Hull
Keith L
KL
Bottini
Peter B
PB
Sherry
James H
JH
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D001058:Apomorphine