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A Controlled Study of Oral Vigabatrin (ɣ-Vinyl GABA) in Patients with Cerebellar Ataxia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

A.M. Bonnet ,
M. Esteguy ,
G. Tell ,
P.J. Schechter ,
J. Hardenberg  and
Y. Agid
A.M. Bonnet
Affiliation:
Clinique de Neurologie et Neuropsychologie Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France
M. Esteguy
Affiliation:
Clinique de Neurologie et Neuropsychologie Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France
G. Tell
Affiliation:
Merrell Dow Research Institute, Strasbourg, France
P.J. Schechter
Affiliation:
Merrell Dow Research Institute, Strasbourg, France
J. Hardenberg
Affiliation:
Merrell Dow Research Institute, Strasbourg, France
Y. Agid*
Affiliation:
Clinique de Neurologie et Neuropsychologie Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France
*
Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, 47, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
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Abstract:

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Vigabatrin (ɣ-vinyl GABA; GVG), an irreversible inhibitor of GABA-transaminase, at a daily dose of 2-4 g, and a placebo were each administered orally for 4 months to 14 patients with cerebellar ataxia (9 with Friedreich's ataxia, 5 with olivopontocerebellar atrophy), in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. For the group as a whole, there was no significant difference between the GVG and placebo periods in any of the parameters of cerebellar symptomatology measured. Individually, one patient showed some improvement after 3 months of treatment with 2 g/day GVG. Tolerance to 4 g/day GVG was poor, whereas 2 g/day was well tolerated. The results suggest that agents which increase central GABA concentrations are not likely to be of benefit to patients with Friedreich's ataxia or olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , November 1986 , pp. 331 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1986

References

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