Propentofylline for dementia

Propentofylline is a novel therapeutic agent for dementia that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and acts by blocking the uptake of adenosine and inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase. In vitro and in vivo its mechanism of action appears to be twofold; it inhibits the production of free radicals and reduces the activation of microglial cells. It therefore interacts with the inflammatory processes that are thought to contribute to dementia, and given its mechanism of action is a possible disease modifying agent rather than a purely symptomatic treatment.

To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of propentofylline for people with dementia.

The trials were identified from a search of the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group on 5 February 2003. Aventis, the manufacturing pharmaceutical company, was asked for data from unpublished studies but declined to enter into correspondence.

Unconfounded double-blind randomized controlled trials of propentofylline compared with a placebo or another treatment group.

There were detailed reports of only four of the nine included studies. The efficacy of propentofylline was reviewed for undifferentiated dementia as there were not enough data to attempt a subgroup analysis for the types of dementia.

The following statistically significant treatment effects in favour of propentofylline are reported. Cognition at 3, 6 and 12 months including MMSE at 12 months. [MD 1.2, 95%CI 0.12 to 2.28, P=0.03] Severity of dementia at 3, 6 and 12 months including CGI at 12 months [MD -0.21, 95%CI -0.39 to -0.03, P=0.03]. Activities of Daily Living (NAB) at 6 and 12 months [MD -1.20, 95%CI -2.22 to -0.18, P=0.02]. Global Assessment (CGI) at 3 months [MD -0.48, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.21, P=0.0006], but not at later times. Tolerability There were minimal data on adverse effects and drop-outs. There were a statistically significant treatment effects in favour of placebo at 12 months, for the number of dropouts, [OR=1.43, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.90, P=0.03].

There is limited evidence that propentofylline might benefit cognition, global function and activities of daily living of people with Alzheimer's disease and/or vascular dementia. The meta-analyses reported here are far from satisfactory as a summary of the efficacy of propentofylline, considering the unpublished information on another 1200 patients in randomized trials that exists. Unfortunately Aventis has been unwilling to correspond with the authors, significantly limiting the scope of this review.