Neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Risk factors for somnolence, edema, and hallucinations in early Parkinson disease.
The CALM-PD trial evaluated the development of motor complications in subjects with early Parkinson disease (PD) randomized to initial treatment with either pramipexole or levodopa. A secondary finding of the trial was a higher than anticipated development or worsening of somnolence and edema and development of hallucinations. ⋯ Comorbid illnesses are important and overlooked risk factors for the development of somnolence, edema, and hallucinations. When initiating therapy with pramipexole, patients should be counseled about and monitored for somnolence and edema. Slight decrements in cognitive function and older age are associated with an increased risk of hallucinations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Prednisolone does not reduce withdrawal headache: a randomized, double-blind study.
Medication overuse headache is a condition where abrupt drug withdrawal is considered the treatment of choice. ⋯ Prednisolone has no effect on withdrawal headache in unselected patients with chronic daily headache and medication overuse.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intermittent cyclophosphamide with prednisone versus placebo for polyneuropathy with IgM monoclonal gammopathy.
The best treatment for polyneuropathy associated with IgM monoclonal gammopathy (MGUS) is unknown. Oral cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone showed limited efficacy in a previous open label pilot study. We therefore performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of combined oral cyclophosphamide and prednisone in IgM MGUS polyneuropathy. ⋯ Compared with placebo treatment, this first double-blind randomized trial with cyclophosphamide and prednisone in IgM MGUS polyneuropathy showed no beneficial effect on the functional scales, but a beneficial effect on muscle strength and sensation was observed.