Warning two parkinson's drugs pose heart valve risk.

Australian Doctor,  January, 2007  

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By Helen Carter

NEJM Doctors are encouraged to warn patients taking the anti-parkinsonian drugs pergolide and cabergoline about the risk of cardiac valve regurgitation, after two new studies confirmed the association.

The study of 11,000 UK patients found the ergot-derived dopamine agonists were the only drugs among six dopamine agonists investigated that were significantly associated with cardiac valve disease.

The incidence of valvular regurgitation was six times higher among patients exposed to either pergolide (Permax) or cabergoline (Cabaser) than in patients who ...

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