Parkinson's Disease
Conditions
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, PD, pulsatile apomorphine, dyskinesia, apomorphine, continuous dopaminergic stimulation
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of apomorphine, given by two different methods, to determine how best to manage dyskinesias.
Detailed description
Levodopa is a drug that can be taken by mouth, and improves the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However it can eventually cause involuntary movements called dyskinesia and motor fluctuations-fluctuations in the control of symptoms, often referred to as off and on. Apomorphine is a drug that works as well as levodopa, but does not work if taken by mouth. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of apomorphine in people with PD who have levodopa-induced motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. In the trial, researchers will compare the effects of apomorphine administered by subcutaneous bolus injections (pulsatile) and by ambulatory infusion pumps (continuous) in 24 people with PD, for 6 months. After an initial screening, potential participants will undergo a test to verify that they can tolerate and respond to apomorphine. Those who meet all of the requirements will be randomized to receive the study drug via injections (shots) using an injector pen or a portable infusion pump. Apomorphine will be given either continuously using the portable pump during the waking day or intermittently by injection, for 6 months. The pump will be carried on a belt and connected by a tube to a small needle under the skin. Injections of apomorphine under the skin will be self-administered by the participants or administered by friends or family members using injector pens. After 6 months, the effects of apomorphine use will be assessed by measuring how the participants respond to levodopa and by measuring their symptoms during the course of the study. Participants will be followed initially every week, then biweekly, and then monthly in an outpatient clinic for 6 months. During this time, they may receive adjustments of apomorphine doses as well as doses of other antiparkinson medications.
Interventions
DRUGApomorphine
Participants in both arms will receive the study drug apomorphine for 6 months. One group will receive it continuously using a portable pump during waking hours, and the other group will receive it intermittently by bolus injections. The continuous delivery group will receive up to 100 mg apomorphine per 24 hours, delivered subcutaneously by ambulatory pump. The intermittent delivery group will receive up to 5 subcutaneous injections totaling up to 20 mg daily.
Sponsors
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Oregon Health and Science University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* idiopathic Parkinson's Disease * clear response to levodopa (sinemet) * off at least 20% of waking day * dyskinesias present for at least two hours of waking day * subject or caregiver able to master use of drug delivery system (injector pen or pump)
Exclusion criteria
* physical complications that would preclude safe participation * standing systolic BP of \<80 * lack of tolerance or response to apomorphine * drug/alcohol abuse
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in dyskinesia severity and duration during the levodopa infusion, measured with a clinical rating scale during two-hour levodopa infusion | at baseline and after 6 months |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Improvement in motor performance, measured as change in tapping speed during levodopa infusion | at baseline and after 6 months |
| Improvement in on time, as measured by subject diaries | at baseline and after 6 months |
| Reduction in levodopa and adjunct drug use | at baseline and after 6 months |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed