Use of fluoxetine for treatment of Machado-Joseph disease: an open-label study.
BACKGROUND
Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD/SCA3) is an autosomal dominant spinocerebellar degeneration that evolves to disability and death. Experimental data have shown that serotonin is an important cerebellar neurotransmitter and that impairment of the serotoninergic cerebellar system can induce cerebellar ataxia.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in treating neurologic dysfunction in patients with MJD.


METHODS
Thirteen MJD patients were treated with fluoxetine (20 mg/day) and were followed-up for 6 weeks. Outcome measures included functional capacity, standardized neurologic and cognitive ratings. The Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale was used to control depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
There was no significant improvement in motor abilities after 6 weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that fluoxetine has no benefit in motor function of patients with MJD/SCA3.
Monte
T L
TL
Neurology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Rieder
C R M
CR
Tort
A B
AB
Rockenback
I
I
Pereira
M L
ML
Silveira
I
I
Ferro
A
A
Sequeiros
J
J
Jardim
L B
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D017827:Machado-Joseph Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors