Efficacy of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the treatment of cerebellar ataxia.
We report a 9-year-old girl with cerebellar ataxia in whom the administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone was effective in the treatment of a prolonged neurologic deficit. Ataxia persisted 18 months after its acute onset of unknown origin. Concentrations of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid were measured repeatedly. Changes in the 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic/homovanillic acid ratio were observed, suggesting that thyrotropin-releasing hormone improved symptoms by influencing serotonin metabolism in the central nervous system.
Takeuchi
Y
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Fujiwara
K
K
Ishimura
K
K
Shimada
Y
Y
Ochi
M
M
Yoshioka
H
H
Sawada
T
T
D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006719:Homovanillic Acid