Effect of Doxycycline in Levodopa Treated Parkinson's Disease Patients: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neuron in the substantia nigra. Most commonly used drug, levodopa can improve the dopamine level in brain but cannot give neuroprotection and also induces motor fluctuations and dyskinesia in many patients. Doxycycline has been shown anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease on animal model. It also reduced Levodopa induced dyskinesia without compromising the motor benefits of Levodopa. Therefore, the present study is to attempt to improve the sign symptoms of Parkinson's disease by giving doxycycline along with Levodopa.

This study is a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial and conducting at Department of Pharmacology, BSMMU in collaboration with Department of Neurology, BSMMU. A total of 60 patients suffering from Parkinson's disease is selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The diagnosis of the patients suffering from Parkinson's disease will be performed by a neurologist at movement disorder clinic of department of Neurology, BSMMU. Patients will undergo MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) to assess the severity of the disease. The patients will be randomly allocated into two arms: control and intervention. Patients in intervention arm consisted of 30 patients who will receive levodopa plus doxycycline orally for 8 weeks. On the other hand, control arm consisted of 30 patients who will receive levodopa plus placebo for 8 weeks. The severity of Parkinson's disease will be assessed after 4 weeks and 8 weeks follow up.