title: Levorotatory form of 5-hydroxytryptophan in Friedreich's ataxia. Results of a double-blind drug-placebo cooperative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of the levorotatory form of 5-hydroxytryptophan on the cerebellar symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cooperative double-blind study of the levorotatory form of 5-hydroxytryptophan vs placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve centers in research hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients were included; 19 completed the study (mean +/- SD age of patients, 25.9 +/- 8.1 years). Of these 19 patients, eight were treated with placebo and 11 were treated with the drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semiquantitative scale for kinetic and static ("postural") cerebellar functions and quantitative measurements of time in standard tests that evaluated stance, speech, writing, and drawing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the active treatment group, a significant decrease of the kinetic score was observed (P = .03), indicating an improvement in coordination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrated that the levorotatory form of 5-hydroxytryptophan is able to modify significantly the cerebellar symptoms in patients with Friedreich's ataxia. However, the effect is only partial and not clinically major.
authors.affiliation: Ataxia Research Center, Hôpital Neurologique, Lyons, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trouillas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serratrice
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laplane
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rascol
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barroche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clanet
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Degos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desnuelle
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dumas
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013060:Speech
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan