Rasagiline: defining the role of a novel therapy
in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
by
Biglan KM, Schwid S, Eberly S, Blindauer K, Fahn S, Goren T, Kieburtz K,
Oakes D, Plumb S, Siderowf A, Stern M, Shoulson I.
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Mov Disord. 2006 Jan 31;

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of rasagiline as monotherapy on quality of life (QOL) in patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD). Rasagiline, a potent, second-generation, irreversible, selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor improves PD symptoms in patients with early PD. Patients with early untreated PD were randomly assigned to once-daily rasagiline 1 mg/day, rasagiline 2 mg/day, or placebo in a 6-month, double-blind trial (n = 404). At the end of 6 months, patients entered the preplanned, active-treatment phase in which those receiving 1 mg/day and 2 mg/day of rasagiline continued on their previously assigned dosages and those receiving placebo switched to rasagiline 2 mg/day, while maintaining blinding to treatment assignments. QOL was measured with the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life questionnaire (PDQUALIF) at 0, 14, 26, and 52 weeks after randomization. Analysis of the change in PDQUALIF scores from baseline to 6 months showed adjusted treatment effects (with 95% confidence interval) favoring rasagiline over placebo of -2.91 units (-5.19, -0.64, P = 0.01) for the 1 mg/day group and -2.74 units (-5.02, -0.45, P = 0.02) for the 2 mg/day. Subscore analysis attributed most of this benefit to the self-image/sexuality domain. At 12 months (n = 266), with all groups receiving rasagiline for at least 6 months, no significant differences in PDQUALIF scores were seen between groups. Rasagiline improved QOL compared with placebo. This QOL improvement appears to be accounted for primarily by the symptomatic benefit of rasagiline.

Rasagiline
Rasagiline: structure
MAO-b inhibitors/PD
Anti-apoptotic activity
Molecular mechanisms
Rasagiline pharmacology
Parkinson's disease: resources
Anti-Alzheimer/anti-Parkinson's drugs
New drugs to treat Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders
Rasagiline versus selegiline metabolites
Rasagiline/ anti-apoptotic bcl-2 gene family
Dual AChE and MAO inhibitors and Alzheimer's
Rasagiline v selegiline: neuronal survival effects
Rasagiline (Agilect, Azilect) in early Parkinson's disease

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