Effect of ultrahigh-dose methylcobalamin on compound muscle action potentials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a double-blind controlled study.
To develop a symptomatic treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we compared the effects of ultrahigh-dose and low-dose (25 and 0.5 mg/day, intramuscularly, for 14 days) methylcobalamin on averaged compound muscle action potential amplitudes (CMAPs) in a double-blind trial. No significant changes in CMAP amplitude were found in 12 patients who had the low-dose treatment at either 2 or 4 weeks after start of treatment. By contrast, 12 patients assigned to the ultrahigh-dose group demonstrated a significant increase at 4 weeks. This method may provide a clinically useful measure to improve or retard muscle wasting, if a larger extended trial fulfills its promise.
Kaji
R
R
Department of Neurology, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kodama
M
M
Imamura
A
A
Hashida
T
T
Kohara
N
N
Ishizu
M
M
Inui
K
K
Kimura
J
J
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
C019476:mecobalamin; D014805:Vitamin B 12