D-cycloserine for the treatment of ataxia in spinocerebellar degeneration.
We studied the effects of D-cycloserine, a partial NMDA receptor allosteric agonist, on ataxia in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration. Fifteen Japanese ataxic patients enrolled in a 14-day single-blind trial of D-cycloserine (daily oral dose of 50 mg) following a 14-day single-blind placebo phase. At the end of the D-cycloserine administration, there was a significant reduction in the posture, gait and total score of the international cooperative ataxia rating scale and in the time for walking and speech tasks. D-Cycloserine was well-tolerated and no adverse effect was observed. D-Cycloserine may have therapeutic efficacy for spinocerebellar ataxia.
Department of Neurology, National Center Hospital for Mental, Nervous, and Muscular Disorders, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan. ogawa-ma@ncnpmushashi.gr.jp
Masafumi
M
Ogawa
Hiroshi
H
Shigeto
Toshiyuki
T
Yamamoto
Yasushi
Y
Oya
Keiji
K
Wada
Toru
T
Nishikawa
Mitsuru
M
Kawai
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001259:Ataxia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013060:Speech; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016138:Walking
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D010919:Placebos; D003523:Cycloserine