RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of Dihydroergocryptine (DHE) in Parkinson's disease. METHOD: Study subjects were 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. DHE was administered orally for 3 months. Parkinsonian severity was assessed by UPDRS, UPDRS-motor score, modified Columbia Rating Scale and the number of finger tapping in both hands for 20 seconds. Patients were asked to report any side-effects related to DHE. Various laboratory tests as well as EKG were performed to exclude possible side-effects. RESULTS: Eight patients were dropped out during the first month of DHE treatment. Although about half of the patients experienced dizziness, indigestion and nausea, most of them were mild and transient. Laboratory tests showed mild and reversible increase in liver enzyme level in 4 patients. Three-month DHE therapy significantly reduced parkinsonian severity that 32%, 44%, 52% reduction of UPDRS, UPDRS-motor and MCRS was observed respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DHE is a safe and effective dopamine agonist and can be used in treatment of Parkinson's disease.