Effects of safinamide on pain in patients with fluctuating Parkinson's disease. Issue 10 (3rd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grigoriou, Sotirios; Martínez‐Martín, Pablo; Ray Chaudhuri, K.; Rukavina, Katarina; Leta, Valentina; Hausbrand, Denise; Falkenburger, Björn; Odin, Per; Reichmann, Heinz
• Is Part Of: Brain and behavior. Volume 11:Issue 10(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-09-03
• Subjects: glutamate -- MAO‐B inhibitor -- non‐motor symptoms -- pain -- Parkinson's disease -- safinamide; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-3279

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Non‐motor symptoms (NMS) are integral to Parkinson's Disease (PD) and management remains a challenge. Safinamide is a novel molecule in relation to addressing NMS due to its multifocal mechanism of action with both dopaminergic and non‐dopaminergic properties. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of safinamide on NMS and its burden in PD patients with motor fluctuations after 6 months of treatment. Methods: This observational, multicenter, open‐label, pilot study assessed a wide range of NMS using the following rating scales, NMSS (non‐motor symptom scale), KPPS (King's PD pain scale), HADS (hospital anxiety and depression scale), PDQ‐8 (Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire), and PDSS‐2 (Parkinson's disease sleep scale), EuroQol‐5D 3 level version (EQ‐5D‐3L), CGI‐I (clinical global impression of improvement), and PGI‐C (patient global impression of change). Motor examination using UPDRS part III (Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale, motor examination), UPDRS IV (complications of therapy) and Hoehn and Yahr staging were also obtained. Results: 27 patients were included in the analysis and were evaluated at baseline and ≥ 6 months after safinamide treatment. 26 patients had a daily maintenance dose of 100 mg and 1 patient a daily dose of 50 mg. Significant improvements in UPDRS IV, KPPS item 5 (region‐specific "off" dystonia), KPPS domain 3 (items 4–6, fluctuation related pain) and KPPS total score were observed after treatment with safinamide, while maintaining stable dopaminergic medication. No statistically significant differences were found in NMSS, HADS, PDSS‐2, EQ‐5D‐3L, and PDQ‐8 after treatment. Conclusions: Our results suggest that safinamide may have a beneficial effect on pain, a key unmet need in fluctuating PD patients. Abstract : In this observational prospective study we investigate the effects of safinamide on non‐motor symptoms in patients with fluctuating Parkinson's disease. Our main finding is a significant improvement in UPDRS IV and pain as measured by the KPPS.