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Improvements in sweat function during whole‐body heating in multiple sclerosis patients following administration of 4‐aminopyridine
Author(s) -
Davis Scott L,
Rola Kelyn S,
Korkmas Melissa A,
Remington Gina M,
Frohman Elliot M
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.1053.14
Subject(s) - sudomotor , medicine , 4 aminopyridine , placebo , crossover study , sweat , multiple sclerosis , thermoregulation , vasodilation , anesthesia , potassium channel , pathology , alternative medicine , psychiatry
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease with impairments in sudomotor function. 4‐aminopyridine (4AP) increases conduction of action potentials in demyelinated axons by inhibiting K + channels and has been shown to improve walking in MS patients. This investigation tested the hypothesis that 4AP could improve thermoregulatory function in MS patients during indirect whole‐body heating (WBH). Sweat rate (SR) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; skin blood flow/mean arterial pressure expressed as %max derived from local heating at 42 °C) were assessed in dorsal forearm skin in females diagnosed with MS (n=4, age=39±8 yrs) during normothermia (NT) and WBH (increased internal temperature ~1.0 °C). A randomized single‐blinded 2‐week crossover drug trial was conducted for 4AP and placebo with a 1‐week washout period between drugs. Sweating (ΔSR from NT) was higher (P=0.036) with 4AP (0.65±0.11 mg/cm 2 /min) compared to placebo (0.53±0.10 mg/cm 2 /min) during WBH. Cutaneous vasodilation (Δ%CVC max from NT) was similar (P=0.53) with 4AP (41.4±3.6%) when compared to placebo (39.5±4.0%). These initial findings suggest that impaired sweating in MS is improved by administration of 4AP. K + channel blockers may improve heat sensitivity in MS patients mitigating the increases in signs and symptoms of their disease as a result of heat exposure or exercise. Project funded by National MS Society (PP1485)