Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6): clinical pilot trial with gabapentin.

Abstract

The clinical effect of the GABAergic drug gabapentin was evaluated in 11 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). The total period of gabapentin treatment was 4 weeks, and outcome measures were determined with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scales (ICARS) and postural sway studies. At week 4, 5 patients showed a decrease of the ICARS values by more than 10% compared with the pre-treatment baseline. Eight patients showed a more than 10% decrease of the sway area (SA) and/or sway path length (SPL) values in postural sway studies. The ICARS values and SA/SPL values were not necessarily consistent in each patient, but 3 patients showed a more than 10% decrease in the ICRAS, SA, and SPL values at week 4 when compared to the pre-treatment baseline. As a whole, the efficacy of gabapentin was not statistically confirmed in the 4-week trial because of the variation in efficacy in each patient, but the data are indicative that some SCA6 patients could benefit from gabapentin treatment.

• Authors: Katsuya Nakamura, Kunihiro Yoshida, Daigo Miyazaki, Hiroshi Morita, Shu-ichi Ikeda
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 278 Issue 1-2 Pg. 107-11 (Mar 15 2009) ISSN: 0022-510X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 19157422 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amines
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• Gabapentin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Amines (therapeutic use)
• Brain (blood supply, drug effects)
• Calcium Channel Blockers (therapeutic use)
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gabapentin
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Pilot Projects
• Postural Balance (drug effects)
• Spinocerebellar Ataxias (drug therapy)
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (cerebrospinal fluid, therapeutic use)