HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lieberman, A. Articles by Kleinberg, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lieberman, A. Articles by Kleinberg, D.

Treatment of advanced Parkinson disease with pergolide

From the Departments of Neurology (Drs. Lieberman, Neophytides, Kupersmith, and Pact) and Neurochemistry (Dr. Goldstein), and the Divisions of Cardiology (Dr. Leibowitz) and Endocrinology (Dr. Kleinberg), New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Pergolide mesylate, a semisynthetic ergoline and a potent, long-acting central dopamine agonist, was tested in 13 patients with advanced Parkinson disease and diurnal oscillations in performance ("wearing-off" or "on-off" phenomena or both) whose response to levodopa had diminished considerably. Among all nine patients who completed the initial clinical trial, pergolide alone (two patients) or combined with levodopa (seven patients) had a marked antiparkinsonian effect. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in rigidity, bradykinesia, gait disorder, and total Parkinson disease disability score. Pergolide had a marked effect in all the patients with "wearing-off" or "on-off" phenomena or both, resulting in a significant increase (p <0.01) in the duration of the time patients were "on." The number of hours in which patients were "on" increased from 3.8 ± 0.5 (SEM) to 11.4 ± 0.8 (SEM). The mean daily dose of pergolide was 2.4 mg (range, 2 to 5 mg). Ten months later, all nine patients are doing well. Pergolide is an effective drug in patients with advanced Parkinson disease and reduces "on-off" phenomena.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Lieberman, NYU Medical Center, 530 First Avenue, Suite 5A, New York, NY 10016.

This study was supported in part by a grant from Eli Lilly Co., Indianapolis, IN.

Presented in part at the thirty-second annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, New Orleans, LA, May 1980.

Accepted for publication September 29, 1980.