Maintained improvement with minocycline of a patient with advanced Huntington's disease.
We present the case of a patient with advanced Huntington's disease treated with minocycline. Minocycline (but not tetracycline which does not cross the blood-brain barrier) appears to increase longevity in an animal model for Huntington's disease. The patient has been maintained on minocycline for more than 1 year with positive effects. Cessation of minocyclin for 3 weeks resulted in an exacerbation of symptoms. The animal studies have suggested that minocycline may prevent progression of Huntington's disease and other neurological disorders. By contrast, this present result suggests that minocycline may benefit those with advanced Huntington's disease and can be used safely in these patients.
Denovan-Wright
E M
EM
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Devarajan
S
S
Dursun
S M
SM
Robertson
H A
HA
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008911:Minocycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008911:Minocycline; D003024:Clozapine