OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment with the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan (L-5-hydroxytryptophan), a controversial experimental drug, can improve the conditions of patients with ataxia. DESIGN: A double-blind crossover study with the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan was performed in 39 patients with degenerative cerebellar diseases. SETTING:Patients were selected from an ongoing prospective follow-up study at two university hospitals. PATIENTS: We studied 19 patients with Friedreich's ataxia, 13 with cerebellar atrophy, and seven with olivoponto-cerebellar atrophy. INTERVENTION: The levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan was given orally in a dose of 1000 mg/d. Each treatment phase, with the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan or the placebo, lasted 10 months, after which the treatment of patients was crossed over to the other phase. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ataxia was documented and quantified by using a clinical score, posturography, and measurement of grip force and the rapid-syllable repetition rate. RESULT: The levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan had no significant effect on cerebellar symptoms. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with a high dose of the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan does not improve the conditions of patients with ataxia.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment with the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan (L-5-hydroxytryptophan), a controversial experimental drug, can improve the conditions of patients with ataxia. DESIGN: A double-blind crossover study with the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan was performed in 39 patients with degenerative cerebellar diseases. SETTING:Patients were selected from an ongoing prospective follow-up study at two university hospitals. PATIENTS: We studied 19 patients with Friedreich's ataxia, 13 with cerebellar atrophy, and seven with olivoponto-cerebellar atrophy. INTERVENTION: The levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan was given orally in a dose of 1000 mg/d. Each treatment phase, with the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan or the placebo, lasted 10 months, after which the treatment of patients was crossed over to the other phase. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ataxia was documented and quantified by using a clinical score, posturography, and measurement of grip force and the rapid-syllable repetition rate. RESULT: The levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan had no significant effect on cerebellar symptoms. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with a high dose of the levorotatory form of hydroxytryptophan does not improve the conditions of patients with ataxia.
Authors: Theresa A Zesiewicz; George Wilmot; Sheng-Han Kuo; Susan Perlman; Patricia E Greenstein; Sarah H Ying; Tetsuo Ashizawa; S H Subramony; Jeremy D Schmahmann; K P Figueroa; Hidehiro Mizusawa; Ludger Schöls; Jessica D Shaw; Richard M Dubinsky; Melissa J Armstrong; Gary S Gronseth; Kelly L Sullivan Journal: Neurology Date: 2018-02-09 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Brigitte K Paap; Sandra Roeske; Alexandra Durr; Ludger Schöls; Tetsuo Ashizawa; Sylvia Boesch; Lisa M Bunn; Martin B Delatycki; Paola Giunti; Stéphane Lehéricy; Caterina Mariotti; Jörg Melegh; Massimo Pandolfo; Chantal M E Tallaksen; Dagmar Timmann; Shoji Tsuji; Jörg Bela Schulz; Bart P van de Warrenburg; Thomas Klockgether Journal: Mov Disord Clin Pract Date: 2016-02-11