Olanzapine in Huntington's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of olanzapine (OL) in Huntington's disease (HD) patients.


METHODS
Eleven HD patients (five men), aged 47.6 +/- 11.4 years and with disease duration of 11.2 +/- 3.3 years received OL. Assessment was carried out using the Clinical Global Impression of Change Scale (CGIC) and the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale behavioral (UHDRS - b) and motor (UHDRS - m) at 6 month intervals.


RESULTS
Nine patients were treated for 9.8 +/- 5.9 months. The mean OL dose/patient was 11.4 +/- 8.5 mg/day (median 10 mg/day). Mean CGIC was 2.1 +/- 0.8. UHDRS - b improved significantly (P < 0.0001) and UHDRS - m did not change. Chorea improved in five patients and two dropped out because of drug eruption and lack of efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
OL is a good alternative treatment in HD, mainly for the psychiatric symptoms and moderately effective for the motor symptoms, possibly because of its effect on chorea. We suggest OL should be used in HD patients with the adult onset form, severe chorea and/or severe psychiatric disturbances.
Paleacu
D
D
Neurological Service and Memory Clinic, Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Keren Kayemet, Bat Yam, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. paleacu@post.tau.ac.il
Anca
M
M
Giladi
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D000077152:Olanzapine