title: Long-acting versus standard non-ergot dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of long-acting versus standard non-ergot dopamine agonists (NEDAs) in Parkinson's disease (PD), we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, and Web of Knowledge were searched up to November 20th 2013. The pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) and relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight large-scale RCTs, involving 2402 patients, were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the standard NEDAs, long-acting NEDAs exhibited similar improvements in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale activities of daily living (ADL) score (WMD 0.09, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.50), motor score (WMD -0.35, 95% CI -1.60 to 0.90), and "off" time (WMD 0.18, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.50). No differences were found in overall withdrawals (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.32), withdrawals due to adverse events (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.56), or the ten commonly reported adverse events between the two formulations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our meta-analysis showed long-acting NEDAs were noninferior to standard NEDAs in efficacy, tolerability, and safety in the treatment of PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jing-He
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Ya-Lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng-Jiao
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Guo-Guang
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists
keywords: Extended release pramipexole; Meta-analysis; Parkinson's disease; Ropinirole prolonged release; Rotigotine transdermal patch