Publications by authors named "Wilhelm Fischer"
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bupropion in the treatment of apathy in Huntington's disease (HD).
Methods: In this phase 2b multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, individuals with HD and clinical signs of apathy according to the Structured Clinical Interview for Apathy-Dementia (SCIA-D), but not depression (n = 40) were randomized to receive either bupropion 150/300mg or placebo daily for 10 weeks. The primary outcome parameter was a significant change of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) score after ten weeks of treatment as judged by an informant (AES-I) living in close proximity with the study participant.
Article Synopsis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe motor neuron disease that usually leads to death within 3 to 5 years and is associated with significant metabolic issues, including weight loss, which impacts patient survival.
- Pioglitazone, a drug tested in ALS patients, successfully improved certain metabolic markers but did not increase body weight, prompting investigation into its effects on the hypothalamic melanocortin system.
- Research on ALS model mice revealed alterations in key neuropeptides related to hunger regulation, suggesting a defective hypothalamic response that may contribute to increased food intake despite a lack of weight gain.
Background: Pioglitazone, an oral anti-diabetic that stimulates the PPAR-gamma transcription factor, increased survival of mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Methods/principal Findings: We performed a phase II, double blind, multicentre, placebo controlled trial of pioglitazone in ALS patients under riluzole. 219 patients were randomly assigned to receive 45 mg/day of pioglitazone or placebo (one: one allocation ratio).
Objective: We conducted a randomized double-blind trial of riluzole in Huntington's disease to investigate the efficacy of this antiexcitotoxic drug in slowing disease progression.
Methods: The study included 537 adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of Huntington's disease confirmed by genotyping. Patients were randomized (2:1) to treatment with riluzole (50mg twice daily) or placebo for 3 years.