Rivastigmine in Chinese patients with subcortical vascular dementia

Original Research

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Authors: Vincent Mok, Adrian Wong, Simon Ho, Thomas Leung, Wynnie WM Lam, et al

Published Date January 2007 Volume 2007:3(6) Pages 943 - 948

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S2221

Vincent Mok¹, Adrian Wong¹, Simon Ho², Thomas Leung¹, Wynnie WM Lam², Ka Sing Wong¹

¹Department of Medicine and Therapeutics; ²Department of Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China

Background: We explored the efficacy and tolerability of rivastigmine among Chinese patients with subcortical vascular dementia.

Methods: Forty subjects were randomized to either placebo (n = 20) or rivastigmine (n = 20) in a double-blind 26-week trial. Outcome measures were cognition (mini-mental state examination, frontal assessment battery), neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), instrumental activities of daily living, clinical dementia rating scale, and adverse events.

Results: No statistical significant benefit could be observed in the active group in any of the efficacy measures. A trend favoring active group was observed only in the NPI subscore of irritability (p = 0.066) and aberrant motor behavior (p = 0.068). Withdrawal rate was 30% and 15% in the active and placebo group, respectively.

Conclusion: Among Chinese subcortical vascular dementia patients, there was no apparent cognitive benefit associated with use of rivastigmine over the 6 months period. A trend favoring rivastigmine was observed in certain behavioral measures. Rivastigmine was associated with more withdrawals relative to placebo.

Keywords: rivastigmine, subcortical vascular dementia, Chinese