Aripiprazole in the treatment of Huntington's disease: a case series.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to describe the effects of aripiprazole, a new atypical antipsychotic drug that acts as a partial dopamine agonist on motor, behavioral and cognitive functions in patients with genetically confirmed Huntington's disease (HD).


RESULTS
Three HD patients were evaluated for Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale part I and II and Beck Depression Inventory at baseline, after two months and one-year treatment. Aripiprazole effectively controlled involuntary movements and psychiatric symptoms, with effects on cognitive functions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our case reports suggest that aripiprazole is well tolerated, remarkably improving some of the motor and behavioral symptoms in patients affected by HD. Randomized, controlled, long-term studies are warranted.
Ciammola
Andrea
A
Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, "Dino Ferrari" Centre, University of Milan Medical School - IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy. a.ciammola@auxologico.it
Sassone
Jenny
J
Colciago
Clarissa
C
Mencacci
Niccolò E
NE
Poletti
Barbara
B
Ciarmiello
Andrea
A
Squitieri
Ferdinando
F
Silani
Vincenzo
V