A long-term follow-up analysis of patients enrolled in the pivotal trial of beta-interferon-1b reports that patients with relapsing-remitting MS in the active treatment arm have improved long-term mortality compared to patients in the placebo arm (Reder et al. Neurology 2010; 74: 1877-1885).
Neurology
Treatment of nonmotor symptoms: AAN report
September 1, 2010The AAN Quality Standards subcommittee has issued its recommendations on the treatment of nonmotor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (Zesiewicz et al. Neurology 2010; 74: 924-931; free full text at www.neurology.org/cgi/reprint/74/11/924). Nonmotor symptoms addressed included sleep disorders (restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements of sleep, excessive daytime somnolence, insomnia, REM sleep behaviour disorder), autonomic dysfunction (GI disorders, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence), fatigue and anxiety.
Is there a role for statins in Alzheimer’s disease?
August 18, 2010There have been conflicting reports on the benefits of statins (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of cholesterol biosynthesis in the pathophysiology of AD.
Mitoxantrone in MS: AAN report
August 18, 2010The AAN Therapeutics and Technology Assessment subcommittee has published its report on the safety and efficacy of mitoxantrone in multiple sclerosis, concluding that the risks of systolic dysfunction and therapy-related leukemia are higher than previously estimated (Marriott et al. Neurology 2010; 74: 1463-1470; free full text at www.neurology.org/cgi/reprint/74/18/1463).
Two negative trials of lithium in ALS
July 21, 2010REPORT FROM THE AAN, APRIL 10-17, 2010 – In 2008, Italian researchers reported that lithium 300-450 mg/day delayed disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Fornai et al. PNAS 2008; 105: 2052-2057; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2538879/?tool=pubmed).