A double-blind cross-over trial of amantadine hydrochloride in Friedreich's ataxia.

Author(s): Filla A, De Michele G, Orefice G, Santorelli F, Trombetta L, Banfi S, Squitieri F, Napolitano G, Puma D, Campanella G

Affiliation(s): Department of Neurology, Second School of Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.

Publication date & source: 1993-02, Can J Neurol Sci., 20(1):52-5.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

We performed a double-blind cross-over study with amantadine hydrochloride in 12 patients with Friedreich's disease and 2 with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia. Patients were randomly assigned to a placebo-amantadine or amantadine-placebo sequence. The interval between the treatments was two weeks. Patients were graded according to a functional ataxia scoring scale and videotaped in basal conditions and 90 min after a single oral dose of 100 mg amantadine or placebo. Three evaluators independently scored the videotapes. Statistical analysis showed no significant effect of amantadine in Friedreich's disease.