J S Lou1, L Goldfarb, L McShane, P Gatev, M Hallett. 1. Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of buspirone hydrochloride, a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine1A) agonist, in treating patients with cerebellar ataxia. DESIGN: Open-label study in which 20 patients (14 with cerebellar cortical atrophy and six with olivopontocerebellar atrophy) received buspirone hydrochloride, up to 60 mg/d, for 8 weeks. SETTING: Research hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, physiological, and psychological assessment. RESULTS: Nine patients with mild or moderate cerebellar dysfunction who completed the study showed significant improvement in clinical and self-assessment ratings, but not in a motor performance test, posturography (data were incomplete), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Seven patients with severe cerebellar dysfunction who completed the study had no improvement on any measure. CONCLUSIONS: Buspirone may be effective in treating mild to moderate cerebellar ataxia. A double-blind study of the efficacy of buspirone in cerebellar ataxia is warranted.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of buspirone hydrochloride, a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine1A) agonist, in treating patients with cerebellar ataxia. DESIGN: Open-label study in which 20 patients (14 with cerebellar cortical atrophy and six with olivopontocerebellar atrophy) received buspirone hydrochloride, up to 60 mg/d, for 8 weeks. SETTING: Research hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, physiological, and psychological assessment. RESULTS: Nine patients with mild or moderate cerebellar dysfunction who completed the study showed significant improvement in clinical and self-assessment ratings, but not in a motor performance test, posturography (data were incomplete), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Seven patients with severe cerebellar dysfunction who completed the study had no improvement on any measure. CONCLUSIONS:Buspirone may be effective in treating mild to moderate cerebellar ataxia. A double-blind study of the efficacy of buspirone in cerebellar ataxia is warranted.
Authors: Loai Alzghoul; Marco Bortolato; Foteini Delis; Panayotis K Thanos; Ryan D Darling; Sean C Godar; Junlin Zhang; Samuel Grant; Gene-Jack Wang; Kimberly L Simpson; Kevin Chen; Nora D Volkow; Rick C S Lin; Jean C Shih Journal: Neuropharmacology Date: 2012-08-16 Impact factor: 5.250