PMID: 9392574: Entacapone improves motor fluctuations in PD

[janet paterson <janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Entacapone improves motor fluctuations in levodopa-treated Parkinson's
disease patients. Parkinson Study Group.

Motor fluctuations associated with levodopa therapy are common problems 
encountered in the long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Entacapone, a peripherally acting, reversible inhibitor of 
catechol-O-methyltransferase, slows the elimination of levodopa in humans by 
reducing the formation of 3-O-methyldopa.

We conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter 
trial of entacapone in PD patients with motor fluctuations.

205 patients were randomized to receive either entacapone 200 mg or matching 
placebo with each dose of levodopa and were followed for 24 weeks.

The primary measure of efficacy was the change in percentage of "on" time 
(relief of parkinsonism) while awake, as recorded by subjects at home in 
diaries completed at 30-minute intervals.

At baseline, patients averaged approximately 10 hours of "on" time per day 
while awake (60.5% "on" time), and entacapone treatment increased the percent 
"on" time by 5.0 percentage points.

The effect of entacapone was more prominent in patients with a smaller percent 
"on" time (<55%) at baseline, and increased as the day wore on.

Entacapone is effective at increasing the duration of response to levodopa and 
at relieving parkinsonism in patients experiencing motor fluctuations and was 
well tolerated during the 24 weeks of treatment.


Ann Neurol 1997 Nov;42(5):747-55
Published erratum appears in Ann Neurol 1998 Aug;44(2):292
PMID: 9392574, UI: 98052467

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janet paterson
52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
613 256 8340 po box 171 almonte ontario canada K0A 1A0
a new voice: <>
<janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx>