title: Safety and efficacy of rasagiline in addition to levodopa for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the safety and efficacy of rasagiline for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) among individuals currently receiving levodopa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing rasagiline with placebo/no treatment in individuals with PD currently receiving levodopa. Outcome measures included improvement in motor functions; symptomatic improvement; improvement in quality of life; adverse effects. Random-effect meta-analytical techniques were conducted for the outcome measure and subgroup analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three RCTs were included (n = 1002). The results showed significantly greater improvements in daily 'on' time without dyskinesia in levodopa-treated participants with idiopathic PD receiving 1 mg/day rasagiline compared to placebo (n = 712, 2 RCTs, MD 0.80, CI 0.45 to 1.15; p < 0.00001), and significantly greater improvements in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor performance scores during 'on' time in participants receiving 0.5-1 mg/day rasagiline (0.5 mg/day: n = 282, MD -2.91, CI -4.59 to -1.23; p = 0.0007; 1 mg/day: n = 712, 2 RCTs, MD -2.91, CI -4.02 to -1.80; p < 0.00001). There were no significant differences in adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  0.5 to 1 mg/day rasagiline in addition to levodopa is a safe and well-tolerated combination therapy for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Quanzhou, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province China.
authors.forename: Jiang-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Wan-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007189:Indans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C031967:rasagiline; D007980:Levodopa