title: Double-blind crossover study with physostigmine in patients with degenerative cerebellar diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether treatment with physostigmine can improve the conditions of patients with ataxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind crossover study with physostigmine was performed in 19 patients with degenerative cerebellar diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were selected from an ongoing prospective follow-up study at the university hospital in Lübeck, Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia and 8 patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physostigmine was administered by using a transdermal system (patch) containing 30 mg of physostigmine as a base, of which about 6 mg is released during 24 hours along a diffusion gradient. Each treatment phase with the physostigmine patch or the placebo lasted 4 weeks, after which the treatment of patients was crossed over to the other phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ataxia was documented and quantified by using a clinical score and posturographic measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physostigmine patches had no significant effect on cerebellar symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with physostigmine does not improve the conditions of patients with ataxia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wessel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Langenberger
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Nitschke
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kömpf
mesh_terms: D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010830:Physostigmine