DOPAMINE AGONIST TREATMENT OF TOURETTE-DISORDER IN CHILDREN - RESULTSOF AN OPEN-LABEL TRIAL OF PERGOLIDE

This exploratory study was meant to determine the effect of the dopami ne (DA) agonist pergolide on Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) in c hildren and adolescents and to ascertain correlates of pergolide respo nse. Thirty-two outpatients, aged 7-19 years, were systematically asse ssed in a neuropsychiatric clinic for the presence of GTS and comorbid disorders. After a 6-week open-label, fixed-flexible dosing schedule, response to pergolide on standard GTS severity outcome measures was a ssessed. Overall, 75% of patients (24/32) had a >50% drop in their tic severity rating from baseline with 3 mean treatment dosage of 177+/-6 1 mu g/day. Highly significant (p=0.0001) baseline to week 6 differenc es were demonstrated in all tic symptom measures. The presence of rest less legs syndrome (RLS) comorbidity (59%) was highly associated with a positive response. These results suggest DA agonism as a strategy, a nd pergolide in particular, may be a practical form of therapy for GTS . Response predictors of patient comorbid RLS argue for its further st udy with regard to GTS.