Effect of butylphthalide on the clinical symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease

Objective To investigate the efficacy of butylphthalide(NBP) in improving the motor and non-motor symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease(PD). Methods A total of 103 PD patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from September 2014 to December 2016 were selected and randomly assigned to NBP treatment group(43 cases) and control group(60 cases). All patients continued their initial prescribed drug regimen, with NBP administered at 200 mg per dose, 3 times per day, orally, for 24 weeks in the NBP group. Tremor score, motor retardation enhancement direct score, MoCA score, and adverse events(AEs) were compared between the two groups before treatment and at 12, 24, and 48 weeks of treatment. Results There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in motor retardation enhancement direct score, tremor score and MoCA score before and after treatment(all P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the enhancement of motor retardation direct score, tremor score and MoCA score before treatment in the two groups(all P>0.05). At 12, 24 and 48 weeks, the enhancement of motor retardation direct score in the NBP group(26.26±13.57, 21.72±11.71, 20.52±11.77) were significantly lower than that in the control group(33.03±18.24, 30.55±18.02, 26.78±16.57), and the score of tremor(31.42±22.66, 27.23±18.15, 25.33±18.18) were also significantly lower than that of control group(47.43±28.88, 41.08±28.07, 37.55±28.61). The MoCA score of the NBP group(20.37±3.45, 25.03±3.26, 28.36±3.38) were significantly higher than that of the control group(18.98±3.22, 20.03±3.51, 24.43±3.34), all P<0.05. NBP-related adverse events were uncommon. Conclusion Butylphthalide can improve the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD patients safely and effectively.