A clinical trial of dextromethorphan in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Introduction - Although the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown, excitotoxicity mediated by glutamate has been implicated. Dextromethorphan is a NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonist with neuroprotective properties. Material and methods - The effect of treatment with dextromethorpha...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Artigo |
| Jezik: | angleščina |
| Izdano: |
2009
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| Online dostop: | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb00231.x |
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| Izvleček: | Introduction - Although the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown, excitotoxicity mediated by glutamate has been implicated. Dextromethorphan is a NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonist with neuroprotective properties. Material and methods - The effect of treatment with dextromethorphan (150 mg daily) in ALS patients was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Forty-five patients were included in the analysis. Results - At the end of the treatment period, 12 months after randomization, 15 patients (65%) in the placebo group and 12 patients (55%) in the dextromethorphan group were still alive (log rank test, P=0.49). Rates of disease progression, as expressed by rates of decline in pulmonary function and in functional disability, were similar in both groups except for a significantly less pronounced rate of decline in the ability scores for the lower extremities in the dextromethorphan group. Conclusion - Treatment with a relatively low dose of dextromethorphan did not result in an improvement in 12-month survival in ALS. |
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