Open-label pilot study of levetiracetam (Keppra) for the treatment of chorea in Huntington's disease

✍ Scribed by Theresa A. Zesiewicz; Kelly L. Sullivan; Robert A. Hauser; Juan Sanchez-Ramos

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 65 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-3185
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.21061

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and preliminary efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) in reducing chorea in Huntington's disease (HD) patients in a prospective open‐label pilot study. Nine HD patients with chorea were treated with LEV in doses up to 3,000 mg/day for up to 48 days. The primary endpoint measure was the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) chorea subscore. The mean dose (±SD) of LEV at endpoint was 2,583.3 ± 1,020.6 mg/day. Mean UHDRS chorea score decreased from 12.6 ± 3.0 at baseline to 6.7 ± 4.3 at endpoint (P = 0.01). There was no significant change in UHDRS total motor scores (38.8 ± 11.4 at baseline and 33.6 ± 26.7 at endpoint; P = 0.24). Somnolence contributed to a 33% drop‐out rate, and 3 patients developed Parkinsonism. Results of this open label study suggest that LEV may be efficacious in reducing chorea in HD patients. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society