DELAYED DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPTOMATIC IMPROVEMENT BY (-)-DEPRENYL IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Twenty de novo patients with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn-Yahr stages I, II, III) were studied in a double blind trial after introducing (-)-d eprenyl monotherapy. The parkinsonian symptoms were assessed by a nove l graded clinical rating scale, by UPDRS and by the North Western self -rating scale. A significant change was observed in motor behaviour an d daily activity (UPDRS) after 3 weeks of treatment with (-)-deprenyl at 10 mg/day. The total scores using UPDRS and the North Western ratin gs were changed significantly after 4 weeks. The greatest changes obse rved were in walking and in hypokinesia. Rigidity was not modified by (-)-deprenyl.