title: A placebo-controlled study of memantine for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated sensory neuropathy.
abstract: Distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) is the most frequent neurological complication of HIV infection. Neuropathic symptoms vary from mild paresthesias to severe pain that respond only partially to symptomatic treatment. Forty-five subjects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated symptomatic DSP (SDSP) were enrolled in a randomized, multicenter, 16-week placebo-controlled study of memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) uncompetitive antagonist. Although memantine was well tolerated, no trend toward clinical benefit was observed. Results were similar to those of other pilot studies of memantine for neuropathic pain unrelated to HIV, suggesting that memantine is ineffective for the symptomatic treatment of HIV-associated SDSP.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14620, USA. Giovanni.schifitto@ctcc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schifitto
authors.forename: Constantin T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yiannoutsos
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Elyse J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kolson
authors.forename: Avindra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Bradford
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Navia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000254:growth & development*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D008559:Memantine