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Methylphenidate fails to improve gait and muscle tone in patients with sporadic and hereditary spastic paraplegia
Author(s) -
Klebe Stephan,
Deuschl Günther,
Stolze Henning
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.20973
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , gait disturbance , hereditary spastic paraplegia , gait , paraplegia , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , movement disorders , muscle tone , spastic , neurological disorder , physical therapy , central nervous system disease , psychiatry , spinal cord , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , cerebral palsy , disease , biochemistry , chemistry , gene , phenotype
Based on its action on multiple neurotransmitters, including dopamine, methylphenidate (MPH) is of growing interest as a possible treatment option for several movement disorders. Of special interest are diseases that share gait disturbance and cognitive decline. Based on a single case observation in a patient with hereditary spastic spinal paraplegia (HSP) in which gait was improved with MPH, we performed an open‐label study with a longitudinal follow‐up in 22 patients with HSP and its sporadic form (SSP). The patients were treated for 6 months with 60 mg of MPH per day. Computerized gait analysis and different scores were performed at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 6 months of treatment. Although at 6 weeks, the gait velocity was somewhat improved, the drug failed to show any effect on other gait parameters and had no beneficial effect at all after 6 months. Although MPH is of interest for several movement disorders, our study did not show a beneficial effect. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society