Safety and efficacy of recombinant human platelet derived growth factor (Rhpdgf) in Parkinson's disease

Methods: Twelve patients with idiopathic PD were implanted with a drug pump and an investigational catheter (Medtronic Inc) leading into the lateral ventricle. Patients were divided into 3 dose cohorts (0.2, 1.5 or 5 μg PDGF/day) and received either PDGF or placebo (buffer, 1 patient/cohort) for 12 days, after which all patients received buffer and were followed up to Day 85. Study objectives included continuous safety and tolerability assessments and UPDRS, MADRS, MMT, EQ5-D and DAT-binding (PET) assessments pre-treatment and at the end-of study.