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- Vol.45 No.4
- CLINICA NEUROL, 45: 328－330, 2005
- Vol.45 No.4 contents
Brief Clinical Note
Optimum dosage of pergolide in patients with Parkinson's disease
Ryuji Neshige, M.D.
Neshige Neurological Clinic
For the purpose of determining the optimal dose, pergolide was administered to patients with Parkinson's disease using a dose-escalation protocol up to the maximum dosage permissible in Japan. The study was completed in 16 subjects with Parkinson's disease. Prior to the start of the dose-escalation study, the daily dose of pergolide was 500 μg in 6 patients and 750 μg in 10 patients. The daily dose was raised by 250 μg at 4-week intervals up to the approved maximum dose of 1,250 μg/day, which was used as the final level. Just before the start of study and after administration for 4 weeks at each dose level, UPDRS-III and PDQ-39 assessments were performed. The mean UPDRS-III score was 28.6±7.9 before the start of the study and 17.3±8.3 after the end, indicating an improvement (improvement rate, 39.3%; p<0.01). The mean PDQ-39 score was 45.2±21.8 before the start and 37.3±17.8 after the end, indicating an improvement (improvement rate, 17.5%; p<0.05). Clinical conditions including their QOL improved significantly after dose-escalation up to the 1,250 μg.
(CLINICA NEUROL, 45: 328－330, 2005)
key words: Pergolide, Dopamine agonist, Parkinson's disease, The 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire, Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part III
(Received: 13-Sep-04)
