title: 4-Aminopyridine induces functional improvement in multiple sclerosis patients: a neurophysiological study.
abstract: This study reports on the neurophysiological measurements that were performed in the context of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study with intravenously administered 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) in 70 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS). A beneficial effect of 4-AP was found for both visual evoked response and eye movement registration parameters. This study extends the experimental data obtained on animal nerve fibers, showing that 4-AP can improve impulse conduction in demyelinated nerve, to clinical data which indicate that 4-AP induces an objective improvement in the central nervous system function in MS-patients. It thereby also provides a theoretical basis for clinical efficacy of 4-AP in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: van Diemen
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Dongen
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nauta
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Strijers
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van Loenen
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Bertelsmann
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Koetsier
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015761:4-Aminopyridine