title: Rivastigmine in Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome: five patients with rivastigmine showed no more improvement than five patients without rivastigmine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether rivastigmine, an achetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEl), may be effective in restoring memory in Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome (WKS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients treated with rivastigmine for a period of 6 months were compared with five matched control patients, who received 6 months' conventional treatment, but without rivastigmine. Memory tests were administered at baseline and after 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Slight improvements were observed in both rivastigmine and control patients, but no significant differences in improvements were found between the study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with rivastigmine may not be effective in restoring memory in WKS patients.
authors.affiliation: Parnassia Groep, The Hague, The Netherlands. luykxj@parnassia.nl
authors.forename: Han J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Luykx
authors.forename: Lucille D A
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Dorresteijn
authors.forename: P M Judith
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Haffmans
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonebakker
authors.forename: Margreet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerkmeer
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Hendriks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D020915:Korsakoff Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068836:Rivastigmine
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine