Open-label pilot trial of levetiracetam for cramps and spasticity in patients with motor neuron disease.
Amyotroph Lateral Scler
; 10(4): 210-5, 2009 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18821142
ABSTRACT
Cramps and spasticity impair quality of life and function in patients with motor neuron diseases, and there are no proven treatments for these problems. We conducted a pilot trial to determine if treatment with levetiracetam was associated with a reduction in cramp severity, cramp frequency, tonic or phasic spasticity. We used an open-label repeated measures pilot trial of 20 patients, comparing cramp and spasticity scores over a 3-month baseline versus nine months on treatment. Cramp and spasticity scores were stable over a 3-month baseline. Shortly after starting levetiracetam, there was a significant reduction in cramp severity and frequency, which persisted for the duration of this year-long study. There was also a reduction in phasic but not tonic spasticity. Levetiracetam was well tolerated. Our results justify a placebo-controlled study of levetiracetam for treatment of cramps and spasticity in patients with motor neuron diseases, and suggest that this can be accomplished with a small number of subjects followed for a short time.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Piracetam
/
Doença dos Neurônios Motores
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Cãibra Muscular
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Espasticidade Muscular
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Anticonvulsivantes
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Amyotroph Lateral Scler
Assunto da revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos