TREATMENT OF PRIMARY DEGENERATIVE DEMENTIA AND MULTIINFARCT DEMENTIA WITH GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN POLYSULFATE - A COMPARISON OF 2 DIAGNOSES AND 2DOSES

Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate is a mixture of sulfomucopolysaccharides with a standardized composition and reproducible biologic activity. I n a 12-week, multicenter clinical trial the therapeutic effects of two dosages-250 lipasemic-releasing units (LRU) per day and 500 LRU/day o f parenterally administered glycosaminoglycan polysulfate were compare d in two diagnostically distinct populations: (1) patients with primar y degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type, and (2) patients with m ulti-infarct dementia. It was found that there were significant change s from pretreatment to end of therapy with regard to measures of objec tive performance, psychopathology, and social behavior. Improvement wa s consistently greater in the group with primary degenerative dementia than in the group with multi-infarct dementia. On the other hand, no consistent differences in therapeutic effects between the two doses co uld be seen. The drug was well tolerated, side effects were infrequent and mild. No clinically significant laboratory abnormalities were enc ountered during the 3-month clinical trial.