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Single‐blind, placebo‐controlled pilot study of pregabalin for ataxia in cortical cerebellar atrophy
Author(s) -
Gazulla J.,
Benavente I.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00912.x
Subject(s) - pregabalin , placebo , cerebellar ataxia , medicine , ataxia , anesthesia , atrophy , cerebellum , psychology , pathology , psychiatry , alternative medicine
Objective – To preliminarily compare the efficacy of pregabalin with that of placebo on the cerebellar signs caused by cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA). A deficiency of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been described in the cerebellum in CCA, and pregabalin has been shown to enhance GABA release in rat hippocampus. Patients and methods – Two consecutive patients with clinical diagnoses of CCA took part in the study. A placebo and pregabalin, 225 mg per day, were administered in a single‐blind scheme during 15 day periods to every patient; cerebellar function was evaluated with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) at the end of each period. A video recording of the SARA items performed by the first patient accompanies this article. Results – Total SARA scores of 19 and 15 were obtained for the patients after placebo administration. The SARA scores decreased to 11 and 8, respectively, with the administration of pregabalin; an important amelioration of the ataxia was also evident. Both patients preferred continuing treatment with pregabalin when the trial was over. Conclusion – Pregabalin was superior to placebo in the improvement of the cerebellar signs caused by CCA. Further studies are needed to confirm the present results.