Two years' follow-up of rivastigmine treatment in Huntington disease.

Clin Neuropharmacol

Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

Published: March 2007

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of rivastigmine on cognitive and motor impairment in Huntington disease (HD) patients after previous short-term positive results.
  • In a controlled study over two years, 11 HD patients receiving 6 mg of rivastigmine were compared to 6 control patients using various assessment scales for cognitive and motor functions.
  • Results indicated that rivastigmine treatment led to significant improvements in motor performance and chorea, as well as a trend toward reduced cognitive impairment, suggesting its potential long-term benefits for HD patients, warranting further research with larger groups.

Article Abstract

Objectives: In a previous short-term study, rivastigmine has shown a mild effect in ameliorating cognitive impairment and slowing motor deterioration in patients affected by Huntington disease (HD). The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term efficacy of rivastigmine on motor and cognitive impairment in HD patients.

Methods: This was an open-label, controlled study with blinded rates: 11 HD patients were evaluated after 2 years under 6 mg rivastigmine treatment versus 6 patients sorted as controls. In basal conditions and after 2 years' follow-up, patients were submitted to the Mini-Mental State Examination, Marsden and Quinn Chorea Severity Scale, Total Functional Capacity score, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, and the motor and functional section of the Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale.

Results: Patients treated with rivastigmine showed a significant improvement of global motor performances and chorea in comparison with the control group, with a trend toward a reduction of functional disability and cognitive impairment.

Conclusions: On the basis of the long-term follow-up of HD patients, rivastigmine exerted a significant improvement of motor performances with a positive trend on cognitive and functional scales. The results of this study suggest long-term efficacy of rivastigmine in HD, which needs to be confirmed in larger series.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.wnf.0000240945.44370.f0DOI Listing

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