Suppression of REM rebound by Pergolide.

A 71 year old retired printer developed idiopathic Parkinson's disease over a period of 3 years. On account of his worsening condition he was admitted to hospital. Following the interruption of his medication the patient developed an akinetic crisis. A 48 hour polysomnogram recording, repeated five times during hospitalization, showed severe sleep deprivation. Treatment with Pergolide alone was then started; and sleep monitoring showed suppression of REM rebound, REM only appearing when the dose of the drug was reduced. It is suggested that REM rebound phenomena produced by sleep deprivation in a Parkinson's disease patient are suppressed by the effect of the dopaminergic agent Pergolide.