Effect of cabergoline added to levodopa treatment on sleep-wake cycle in idiopathic Parkinson's disease: an open label 24-hour polysomnographic study

Romigi, A.
Stanzione, P.
Marciani, M. G.
Izzi, F.
Placidi, F.
Cervellino, A.
Giacomini, P.
Brusa, L.
Grossi, K.
Pierantozzi, M.

¹ University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Policlinico Tor Vergata Servizio di Neurofisiopatologia Centro di Medicina del Sonno, Rome, Italy
² University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Clinica Neurologica, Rome, Italy
³ IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, Rome, Italy
⁴ Università di Roma La Sapienza, Clinica Neurologica, Rome, Italy

Received: 22 September 2005/Accepted: 1 February 2006/Published online: 1 June 2006

Journal of Neural Transmission 113(12):p 1909-1913, December 2006. | DOI: 10.1007/s00702-006-0490-x

Summary.

Few studies focused on the effects of cabergoline on sleep-wake cycle in PD. Twelve patients affected by PD treated with levodopa as monotherapy underwent two 24-hour ambulatory polysomnographic (A-PSG) sessions twice: in baseline condition (levodopa as monotherapy) and after addition of cabergoline. In each condition, a subjective evaluation of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness was obtained by means of Parkinson's disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The statistical analysis of sleep parameters revealed a significant increase of sleep efficiency and slow wave sleep under cabergoline. The PDSS total score showed a significant improvement of overall sleep quality after cabergoline. No significant changes in daytime sleepiness were observed. No patient referred and/or showed sleep attacks before and after addition of cabergoline. We hypothesize that the long-lasting effect of cabergoline may improve the objective quality of nocturnal sleep in PD patients complaining nocturnal motor disability without inducing daytime sleepiness.