A pilot study using nabilone for symptomatic treatment in Huntington's disease.
Pilot study of nabilone in Huntington's disease (HD). Double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of nabilone versus placebo. Primary outcome, Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) total motor score. Secondary measures: UHDRS subsections for chorea, cognition and behavior, and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI). 44 randomized patients received either nabilone (1 or 2 mg) followed by placebo (n = 22), or placebo followed by nabilone (n = 22). Recruiting was straightforward. Nabilone safe and well tolerated, no psychotic episodes. Assessment of either dose of nabilone versus placebo showed a treatment difference of 0.86 (95% CI: -1.8 to 3.52) for total motor score; 1.68 (95% CI: 0.44 to 2.92) for chorea; 3.57 (95% CI: -3.41 to 10.55) for UHDRS cognition; 4.01 (95% CI: -0.11 to 8.13) for UHDRS behavior, and 6.43 (95% CI: 0.2 to 12.66) for the NPI. Larger longer RCT of nabilone in HD is feasible and warranted.
Curtis
Adrienne
A
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. ade@rcare.co.uk
Mitchell
Ian
I
Patel
Smitaa
S
Ives
Natalie
N
Rickards
Hugh
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; C011941:nabilone; D013759:Dronabinol