Long-term mortality results of the randomized controlled study comparing bromocriptine to which levodopa was later added with levodopa alone in previously untreated patients with Parkinson's disease

The present paper compares, in terms of mortality, two treatment regimens f or Parkinson's disease (PD), i.e., bromocriptine later combined with levodo pa versus levodopa only. Between 1982 and 1989, 60 PD patients (29 treated with levodopa alone [group D] and 31 receiving first bromocriptine followed by an association of bromocriptine + levodopa [group B/D]) were recruited. Data were updated in January 2000. Survival functions were estimated using Kaplan Meier product-limit method and comparison between the two groups wi th the log-rank test. Mortality was also compared with that of the general French population using standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). The mean dura tion of follow-up was 10.3 +/- 3.0 years. Seventeen patients died during th e follow-up: nine in the group Bn, and eight in the group D. The probabilit y of survival at 10 years was 79.0% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 71.4-86. 6] in group B/D and 72.9% [95% CI: 63.3-82.6] in group D. In comparison wit h the general French population, SMRs were not statistically different from 1, in the whole sample of PD patients (1.21, 95% CI [0.71-1.95]). in group D (0.98 [0.42-1.93]), or in group B/D (1.53 [0.70-2.92]). In this populati on, we were unable to find any favourable effect of an early use of bromocr iptine on mortality in PD in comparison with levodopa alone. (C) 2001 Movem ent Disorder Society.