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Placebo-controlled study of mesulergine in Parkinson's disease

Department of Neurology (Dr. Jankovic and Ms. Orman), Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX; and the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute (Dr. Jansson), Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX.

We used a new D₂ dopamine agonist, mesulergine (8-alpha-amino-ergoline, CU 32–085), to treat 20 patients (12 men and 8 women), mean age 62.6 (SEM = 1.7) and mean duration of illness 5.9 (SEM = 1.0) years. Wearing-off effect was the principal indication for new therapy in 15 patients, and the others had inadequate response to levodopa. All continued on levodopa therapy, and 10 patients were studied in a double-blind controlled test. The mean motor disability decreased from 2.8 (SEM = 0.12) to 1.6 (SEM = 0.18) with mesulergine (p < 0.0001) and increased to 1.9 (SEM = 0.20) with placebo (p < 0.001). Tremor improved most, followed by rigidity, bradykinesia, gait, and postural instability. Side effects included dyskinesia, light-headedness, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and ankle edema, but, in general, mesulergine was tolerated well.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jankovic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030.

Accepted for publication May 22, 1984.

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