Acetyl-DL-leucine improves gait variability in patients with cerebellar ataxia—a case series. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schniepp, Roman; Strupp, Michael; Wuehr, Max; Jahn, Klaus; Dieterich, Marianne; Brandt, Thomas; Feil, Katharina
• Is Part Of: Cerebellum & ataxias. Volume 3:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 4
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Gait variability -- Acetyl-DL-leucine -- Cerebellar ataxia -- Speed dependency -- symptomatic treatment; Cerebellum -- Periodicals; Cerebellum -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cerebellar ataxia -- Periodicals; Ataxia -- Periodicals; 612.827
• DOI: 10.1186/s40673-016-0046-2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-8871

Abstract

Abstract Acetyl-DL-leucine is a modified amino acid that was observed to improve ataxic symptoms in patients with sporadic and hereditary forms of ataxia. Here, we investigated the effect of the treatment with Acetyl-DL-leucine on the walking stability of patients with cerebellar ataxia (10x SAOA, 2x MSA-C, 2x ADA, 1x CACNA-1A mutation, 2x SCA 2, 1x SCA 1). Treatment with Acetyl-DL-leucine (500 mg; 3-3-4) significantly improved the coefficient of variation of stride time in 14 out of 18 patients. Moreover, subjective ambulatory scores (FES-I and ABC) and the SARA scores were also improved under treatment. Further prospective studies are necessary to support these class III observational findings.