Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Daily Dosages of 6 mg and 20 mg Dihydroergocristine in the Treatment of Chronic Cerebro-Vascular Disease

The efficacy and safety of two different regimens of dihydroergocristine, in the treatment of patients with chronic cerebro-vascular disease, were compared in this double-blind study. Forty out-patients, 11 males and 29 females, aged 55 – 80 years were randomly assigned to treatment with 6 or 20 mg dihydroergocristine, daily, for 3 months. The Sandoz Clinical Assessment for Geriatrics (SCAG) scale was used to assess the efficacy of treatment. Both doses induced a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.01) in total SCAG scores after both 45 and 90 days of treatment. The higher dose produced a significantly greater improvement in total SCAG scores than did the lower dose after both 45 and 90 days. There were no statistically or clinically significant changes in any of the laboratory parameters after either treatment; neither were there any statistically significant changes in blood-pressure or pulse-rate except in the case of standing systolic pressure which decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in the 20 mg group. The only adverse event reported was a case of mild gastric pain at the end of treatment with 20 mg dihydroergocristine.