Determining the Efficacy of Rasagiline in Reducing Bradykinesia Among Parkinson's Disease Patients: A Review.

PARKINSON'S disease; MOVEMENT disorder treatments; MOTOR ability; ENZYME inhibitors; DRUG efficacy; SEVERITY of illness index; PHARMACODYNAMICS; BRAIN diseases

Background: Bradykinesia has a significant impact on the lives of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Consequently, treating this symptom is of particular concern for patients and clinicians. A number of studies have documented the efficacy of rasagiline in reducing the severity of PD symptoms. Objective: To summarize studies that specifically examined the impact of rasagiline on bradykinesia symptoms in PD patients across disease severity. Methods: The EMBASE database was searched for relevant articles published between 2000 and November 2010. Results: Three studies were identified that explicitly examined the effect of rasagiline on the bradykinesia subscale of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor examination. In each, 1 mg/day rasagiline significantly reduced bradykinesia scores in patients. Conclusion: As a monotherapy or an adjunctive therapy, rasagiline is an effective drug for reducing the severity of bradykinesia in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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