Fludrocortisone in patients with familial dysautonomia--assessing effect on clinical parameters and gene expression.

Abstract

The common familial dysautonomia (FD) mutation causes a splicing defect that leads to production of both wild-type (WT) and mutant (MU) IKBKAP mRNA. Because drugs may alter splicing, seven drugs, fludrocortisone, midodrine, diazepam, albuterol, clonidine, caffeine, and dopamine were screened. Since only fludrocortisone negatively altered gene expression, we assessed fludrocortisone's efficacy in treating postural hypotension, and its effect on survival and secondary long-term FD problems. For 341 FD patients we obtained demographic data and clinical information from the last Center evaluation (most current or prior to death) including mean blood pressures (supine, 1 min erect and 5 min erect) and history regarding syncope and presyncope symptoms. For 175 fludrocortisone-treated patients, data from the evaluation prior to start of fludrocortisone and from the last Center evaluation were compared. The fludrocortisone-treated patient cohort was compared to the nontreated patient cohort with respect to overall survival and event-free survival for crisis frequency, worsening gait, frequent fractures, spine curvature, renal insufficiency, and pacemaker insertion. Overall survivals of patients on fludrocortisone alone, on fludrocortisone and midodrine, and on neither drug were compared. Cumulative survival was significantly higher in fludrocortisone-treated patients than in non-treated patients during the first decade. In subsequent decades, the addition of midodrine improved cumulative survival. Fludrocortisone significantly increased mean blood pressures and decreased dizziness and leg cramping, but not headaches or syncope. Fludrocortisone was associated with more long-term problems, which may reflect more symptomatic status associated with longer survival. Our data suggest that fludrocortisone has clinical efficacy despite negative in vitro observations on gene expression.

• Authors: Felicia B Axelrod, Judith D Goldberg, Linda Rolnitzky, James Mull, Sandra P Mann, Gabrielle Gold von Simson, Dena Berlin, Susan A Slaugenhaupt
• Journal: Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society (Clin Auton Res) Vol. 15 Issue 4 Pg. 284-91 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0959-9851 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16032383 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Carrier Proteins
• Elp1 protein, human
• Sympathomimetics
• Transcriptional Elongation Factors
• Midodrine
• Fludrocortisone

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carrier Proteins (genetics)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Databases, Factual
• Female
• Fludrocortisone (therapeutic use)
• Gene Expression (drug effects)
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Midodrine (therapeutic use)
• RNA Splicing (drug effects)
• Shy-Drager Syndrome (drug therapy, genetics, mortality)
• Sympathomimetics (therapeutic use)
• Transcriptional Elongation Factors