Extrait

Background and study aims Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder that causes stiffness in the muscles, slowness and tremor. These symptoms appear over many years and are caused by a reduction in the numbers of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine. Several different types of drugs (mainly levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAOB inhibitors and COMT inhibitors) are used to control the symptoms of PD, with some doctors preferring one type and other doctors another. However, little is known about how the drugs compare with each other and whether or not some provide better overall quality of life for people with PD. The aim of this study is to compare the different drugs for PD to find out which treatment achieves the best control of symptoms with the fewest side-effects. Who can participate? Recently diagnosed patients with PD and patients with poorly controlled PD What does the study involve? Participants are randomly allocated to be treated with one of the different types of drug. These are prescribed by their doctor in the usual way and the participants are asked to complete questionnaires every year for at least 5 years to say how the drugs are affecting them. The participants’ carers are also asked how helping to look after someone with PD affects their life. The questionnaires are sent out by post and no extra clinic visits are necessary. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Not provided at time of registration Where is the study run from? University of Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? November 1999 to October 2011 Who is funding the study? Health Technology Assessment Programme (UK) Who is the main contact? Prof. Richard Gray [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• Parkinson's disease

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn