Combination Treatment for PD Outperforms Standard Treatment

Treatment with levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone (LCE) can improve moto symptoms and daily functioning in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) compared with levodopa/dopa-decarboxyiase inhibitor (DDCI).

The researchers came to this conclusion following a review and meta-analysis of data from 7 randomized controlled trials and 1 cost-effectiveness study on the use of LCE in patients with PD.
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Compared with levodopa-DDCI, LCE was associated with improved patient Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) II score (mean difference -1.17), UPDRS III score (mean difference -1.55), and Schwab and England daily activity rating (mean difference 2.05).

“In summary, LCE therapy can improve PD patients’ symptoms by improving UPDRS II, UPDRS III, and Schwab and England ADL scores for PD patients when compared with levodopa/DDCI therapy. As for safety, LCE therapy was associated with higher risks of total adverse events and single adverse events, including dyskinesia, urine abnormality, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, and sleepiness but did not increase the risks of serious adverse events or discontinuation from studies.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Yi ZM, Qiu TT, Zhang Y, et al. Levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone versus levodopa/dopa-decarboxyiase inhibitor for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: systematic review, meta-analysis, and economic evaluation. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2018;14:709-719.