Objective: We compared the effects of safinamide on the urinary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease with other therapies.

Background: Urinary symptoms (US) are common, disabling and generally unresponsive to treatment in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Safinamide is approved as an add-on therapy to levodopa to improve fluctuations.

Method: Non-demented PD patients seen consecutively in a Movement Disorders Unit (December 2018-May 2019) were assessed with Scale for Outcomes in Parkinson’s disease for Autonomic Symptoms (SCOPA-AUT) by the attending neurologist, and a month afterwards by an independent researcher blinded to treatment and clinical records. Exclusion criteria were SCOPA-AUT-U< 1 and severe incontinence (all-day diapers, cathetherization). Statistics: Wilcoxon Rank test.

Results: From 83 patients screened so far, 11 were excluded due to SCOPA-AUT-U< 1 and 7 due to severe incontinence. Sixty-five patients (48% men), 72.8±10.1 years old, disease duration 7.6±5.1 years, H&Y 2±0.8 were analysed. SCOPA-AUT-U was 7.6±2, nicturia being the most frequent item (2.1±1, 1.9±1 times per night). Twenty-six patients were on safinamide (100 mg) in follow-up visit and 40 were not; no significant differences on sex, age, disease duration, stage or frequency of motor fluctuations were noted, although there was a trend to male sex, a longer and more advanced disease in safinamide group. SCOPA-AUT-U (8.3±2.7 to 7.1±1.9, p:0.00074) and the number of nicturia episodes (1.9±1.3 to 1.2±0.9; p <0.05) significantly improved with the addition of safinamide but not in the remaining patients. Only one patient discontinued safinamide due to dopaminergic adverse events.

Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggest efficacy of safinamide in US in PD, especially nicturia. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanism and extent of this effect.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/safinamide-in-the-treatment-of-urinary-symptoms-in-parkinsons-disease-surinpark/