Amphetamine fails to facilitate motor performance and to enhance motor recovery among stroke patients with mild arm paresis: interim analysis and termination of a double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of d-amphetamine on motor facilitation and recovery in stroke patients with mild arm paresis receiving the Arm Ability training.


METHODS
Thirty-one stroke patients with mild arm paresis were randomly assigned to either (a.) receiving placebo or (b.) d-amphetamine twice a week 2 hours before Arm Ability training sessions for three weeks.


METHODS
time needed to perform TEMPA tasks, a measure of upper extremity performance reflecting everyday life tasks. Secondary measures: aimed movements, tapping, and a 10 m walkway as well as motor performance during training sessions.


RESULTS
The interim efficacy analysis of 26 stroke patients who completed the study intervention showed overall arm motor recovery both from pre to post test after 3 weeks of training and from pre test to follow-up 1 year later. No superior effect of d-amphetamine over placebo could be substantiated for either motor facilitation during training or motor recovery (post training or long-term). D-amphetamine exerted mild effects on blood pressure. Serious adverse events were not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
d-Amphetamine failed to facilitate motor performance during training sessions, to promote skill acquisition with training tasks, and most importantly to enhance motor recovery among patients with mild arm paresis after stroke.
Klinik Berlin, Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. tplatz@zedat.fu-berlin.de
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Platz
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Kim
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Engel
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Pinkowski
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Eickhof
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Kutzner
D000368:Aged; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000661:Amphetamine