Early manifestations of dementing illness: treatment with glycosaminoglycan polysulfate

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 16; no. 5; p. 661
• Main Authors: Ban, T A, Morey, L C, Fjetland, O K, Rengo, F, Ferrara, N, Agnetti, V, D'Onofrio, M, Facchini, G, Anzivino, F, Perego, M A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.09.1992
• Subjects: Affect; Aged; Chi-Square Distribution; Dementia - drug therapy; Dementia - psychology; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - psychology; Double-Blind Method; Female; Glycosaminoglycans - therapeutic use; Heparinoids - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychometrics; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0278-5846
• DOI: 10.1016/0278-5846(92)90023-8

1. In a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial in 156 elderly patients with psychopathologic symptoms, glycosaminoglycan polysulfate was found to be a therapeutically effective agent in the treatment of the earliest manifestations of a dementing process. 2. Treatment with glycosaminoglycan polysulfate in the daily dosage of 600 LRU, administered on the basis of a divided dosage schedule for 24 weeks, was significantly superior to an inactive placebo on several outcome measures including the SCAG Total and factor scores (i.e., Cognitive Dysfunction, Withdrawal, Agitation/Irritability and Depression), the NOWLIS Total and Fatiguability factor scores, the MMSE, the HAM-D Total and Vegetative Symptoms factor score and the CGI Severity of Illness and Global Improvement. 3. The drug was well tolerated; vital signs and laboratory measures did not show clinically significant changes within the experimental period.