Rivastigmine in Chinese patients with subcortical vascular dementia.
BACKGROUND
We explored the efficacy and tolerability of rivastigmine among Chinese patients with subcortical vascular dementia.


METHODS
Forty subjects were randomized to either placebo (n = 20) or rivastigmine (n = 20) in a double-blind 26-week trial. Outcome measures were cognition (mini-mental state examination, frontal assessment battery), neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), instrumental activities of daily living, clinical dementia rating scale, and adverse events.


RESULTS
No statistical significant benefit could be observed in the active group in any of the efficacy measures. A trend favoring active group was observed only in the NPI subscore of irritability (p = 0.066) and aberrant motor behavior (p = 0.068). Withdrawal rate was 30% and 15% in the active and placebo group, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Among Chinese subcortical vascular dementia patients, there was no apparent cognitive benefit associated with use of rivastigmine over the 6 months period. A trend favoring rivastigmine was observed in certain behavioral measures. Rivastigmine was associated with more withdrawals relative to placebo.
Mok
Vincent
V
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. vctmok@cuhk.edu.hk
Wong
Adrian
A
Ho
Simon
S
Leung
Thomas
T
Lam
Wynnie W M
WW
Wong
Ka Sing
KS