| Methods |
Randomised, double‐blind, parallel group design.
Randomisation method not given. Randomised in blocks of 4, (2 ropinirole, 2 bromocriptine).
Intention to treat and per protocol analysis.
Location: 105 sites, Japan.
Duration: 8 weeks. |
| Participants |
On L‐dopa group:
Ropinirole: 132 patients with 27 drop‐outs (20%).
Bromocriptine: 135 patients with 35 drop‐outs (26%).
Details of terminations given.
Age: ropinirole 65.8 years (SD 8.5), bromocriptine 64.2 years (SD 9.1).
Hoehn and Yahr at baseline: both groups median stage III.
Inclusion criteria:
IPD ‐ 2 groups: de novo and L‐dopa treated patients. Some of the latter may not have suffered motor complications.
Age 20‐80 years.
Exclusion criteria: Severe psychiatric symptoms, severe cardiac, hepatic or renal disease. |
| Interventions |
Ropinirole: Initial dose 0.5mg/d increased by 1mg/d increments weekly to a maximum of 9mg/d, mean 4mg/d.
Bromocriptine: Initial dose 1.25mg/d increased by 2.5mg/d increments weekly to a maximum of 22.5mg/d, mean 9.2mg/d.
Levodopa could be reduced. |
| Outcomes |
Hoehn and Yahr
Individual symptoms of Parkinson's
Adverse events |
| Notes |
Only data from the l‐dopa treated group used. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
A ‐ Adequate |
