title: N-acetylcysteine and Unverricht-Lundborg disease: variable response and possible side effects.
abstract: Serum glutathione levels were assessed in a patient with genetically proven Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD) before and during treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Glutathione levels were low before treatment, and increased during treatment. This increase was mirrored by an improvement in seizures, but not in myoclonus or ataxia. Three other patients with clinically determined ULD showed a variable response and some notable side effects during treatment with NAC.
authors.affiliation: Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, UK.
authors.forename: M J J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.forename: S J R
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heales
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sisodiya
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020194:Unverricht-Lundborg Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine