Double blind cross over trial with deprenyl in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In this paper we present results from a double blind cross over trial with deprenyl, a selective and irreversible monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor, in 10 patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The patients were randomised in such a way that half of the patients started with the active drug and half with the placebo treatment. Each patient was given 10 mg deprenyl (eldepryl, 10 mg tablets) per day for 12 weeks and then placebo for the same length of time. There was a drug free period of 12 weeks between the courses. The neurological status of the patients were evaluated every six weeks by using Norris, spinal and bulbar scores and it was observed that all cases deteriorated in their clinical status during the 36 weeks of the controlled study. MAO-B activity in blood platelets was completely inhibited during treatment with deprenyl. In the preliminary analysis performed so far, no obvious retardation in the progress of the disease could be observed with deprenyl treatment.