Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Strategies to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease cannot stop the progression. In Cuba, the Center for Molecular Immunology is a cutting edge scientific center where recombinant human erythropoietins with low sialic acid (NeuroEPO) are produced. We are looking for different alternatives that modify the natural course of the disease and recent research has demonstrated the neuroprotective properties of erythropoietin.

Objective: Assess safety and the positive results of the cognitive tests of recombinant human erythropoietin with low sialic acid in a group of Parkinson’s disease patients.

Methods: The study was conducted in PD patients from the outpatient clinic of CIREN, including n = 26 patients between 60 and 66 years of age, in stages 1 to 2 of the Hoehn and Yahr Scale. The study employed an intranasal formulation of neuroEPO. All patients were evaluated with a battery of neuropsychological scales composed to evaluate global cognitive functioning, executive function, and memory. Safety was evaluated by recording adverse events (by intensity and causality). Hematological parameters and blood pressure were also measured because of their direct relationship to the medication’s action.

Results: Five patients experienced mild adverse events with a possible causal relationship in the five patients that were neither life-threatening nor required hospitalization. The results in the study showed a positive response to the cognitive functions in patients, who were undergoing pharmacological treatment with respect to the evaluation (p < 0.05) before the intervention which could be interpreted as an effect of the neuroprotective properties of these molecules.

Keywords: Parkinson disease, erythropoietin, clinical trial, safety, NeuroEPO.

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