[Cost-effect estimation of dopamine agonist (mirapex) application in patients with Parkinson's disease]

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with a growing social significance. Currently, dopamine agonists are considered as first-line medication used before levodopa treatment. High cost of dopamine agonists makes it necessary to estimate their cost efficacy by means of pharmacoeconomical studies. We studied efficacy of mirapex evaluated by UPDRS and PDQ-39 scores before and after 1-year treatment in 44 patients with Parkinson's disease: 18 patients non-pretreated with levodopa and 26 patients pretreated with levodopa. Treatment cost was estimated separately for two patients groups with subsequent cost-effectiveness analysis. Early use of mirapex as a dopamine agonist for patients non-treated with levodopa seems to be beneficial from clinical well as from pharmacieconomical points of view.