Madopar combined with acupuncture improves motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients: A multicenter randomized controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionAcupuncture is increasingly used in the treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This multi-center randomized controlled trial investigated the use of acupuncture in conjunction with the western medication Madopar (levodopa and benserazide) to evaluate the effect of integrated therapy on improving motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients. MethodsSeventy-six PD patients from three hospitals were randomly assigned to a treatment group (acupuncture + Madopar, n = 38) or a control group (Madopar, n = 38) and participated in a 12-week trial (2 four-week treatment courses and a four-week follow-up). The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), modified Webster Scale, Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to record and evaluate the changes in symptoms. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. ResultsThe treatment group showed greater improvement to that of the control group at the end of treatment course and at follow-up. All scales differed at each time point (P < 0.05) except for UPDRSIV and SDS in the control group (P > 0.05). Scores on the modified Webster Scale and SDS were significantly different between the two groups from Week 4 (P < 0.05), as were other scales except for UPDRSII and UPDRSIII from Week 8 (P > 0.05). No serious drug- or acupuncture-related adverse events and complications were recorded. ConclusionsIntegrated therapy showed a greater advantage, with earlier non-motor symptom improvement. This study also indicated that acupuncture had a certain long-term effect.