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EFFECTS OF TOCOPHEROL AND DEPRENYL ON THE PROGRESSION OF DISABILITY IN EARLY PARKINSONS-DISEASE
Author(s): SHOULSON I, FAHN S, OAKES D, KIEBURTZ K, LANG A, LANGSTON JW, LEWITT P, OLANOW CW, PENNEY JB, TANNER C, RUDOLPH A, PELUSIO RM
Source: NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE    Volume: 328    Issue: 3    Pages: 176-183    Published: JAN 21 1993  
Times Cited: 472     References: 34     
Abstract: Background and Methods. In 1987 we began a multicenter controlled clinical trial of deprenyl (a monoamine oxidase inhibitor) and tocopherol (a component of vitamin E that traps free radicals) in the treatment of early Parkinson's disease. We randomly assigned 800 patients to one of four treatments: placebo, active tocopherol and deprenyl placebo, active deprenyl and tocopherol placebo, or both active drugs. The primary end point was the onset of disability prompting the clinical decision to begin administering levodopa. An interim analysis showed that deprenyl was beneficial (N Engl J Med 1989;321:136471). We report the results of tocopherol treatment after a mean (+/-SD) follow-up of 14+/-6 months, as well as the follow-up results for deprenyl.

Results. There was no beneficial effect of tocopherol or any interaction between tocopherol and deprenyl. The beneficial effects of deprenyl, which occurred largely during the first 12 months of treatment, remained strong and significantly delayed the onset of disability requiring levodopa therapy (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.41 to 0.62; P<0.001). The difference in the estimated median time to the end point was about nine months. The ratings for Parkinson's disease improved during the first three months of deprenyl treatment; the motor performance of deprenyl-treated patients worsened after the treatments were withdrawn.

Conclusions. Deprenyl (10 mg per day) but not tocopherol (2000 IU per day) delays the onset of disability associated with early, otherwise untreated Parkinson's disease. The action of deprenyl that accounts for its beneficial effects remains unclear.

Document Type: Article
Language: English
Reprint Address: SHOULSON, I (reprint author), UNIV ROCHESTER, MED CTR, DEPT NEUROL, BOX 673, 601 ELMWOOD AVE, ROCHESTER, NY 14642 USA
Addresses:
1. COLUMBIA PRESBYTERIAN MED CTR, NEW YORK, NY 10032 USA
2. TORONTO GEN HOSP, TORONTO M5G 1L7, ONTARIO CANADA
3. CALIF PARKINSONS FDN, SAN JOSE, CA USA
4. SINAI HOSP, DETROIT, MI 48235 USA
5. UNIV S FLORIDA, TAMPA, FL 33620 USA
6. UNIV MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 USA
7. RUSH PRESBYTERIAN ST LUKES MED CTR, CHICAGO, IL 60612 USA
Publisher: MASS MEDICAL SOC, 10 SHATTUCK, BOSTON, MA 02115
Subject Category: Medicine, General & Internal
IDS Number: KG625
ISSN: 0028-4793
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