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Costantini A, Laureti T, Pala MI, Colangeli M, Cavalieri S, Pozzi E, Brusco A, Salvarani S, Serrati C, Fancellu R. Long-term treatment with thiamine as possible medical therapy for Friedreich ataxia. J Neurol 2016; 263:2170-2178. [PMID: 27488863 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-016-8244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Thiamine (vitamin B1) is a cofactor of fundamental enzymes of cell energetic metabolism; its deficiency causes disorders affecting both the peripheral and central nervous system. Previous studies reported low thiamine levels in cerebrospinal fluid and pyruvate dehydrogenase dysfunction in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). We investigated the effect of long-term treatment with thiamine in FRDA, evaluating changes in neurological symptoms, echocardiographic parameters, and plasma FXN mRNA levels. Thirty-four consecutive FRDA patients have been continuously treated with intramuscular thiamine 100 mg twice a week and have been assessed with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) at baseline, after 1 month, and then every 3 months during treatment. Thiamine administration ranged from 80 to 930 days and was effective in improving total SARA scores from 26.6 ± 7.7 to 21.5 ± 6.2 (p < 0.02). Moreover, deep tendon reflexes reappeared in 57 % of patients with areflexia at baseline, and swallowing improved in 63 % of dysphagic patients. Clinical improvement was stable in all patients, who did not show worsening even after 2 years of treatment. In a subgroup of 13 patients who performed echocardiogram before and during treatment, interventricular septum thickness reduced significantly (p < 0.02). Frataxin mRNA blood levels were modestly increased in one-half of treated patients. We suppose that a focal thiamine deficiency may contribute to a selective neuronal damage in the areas involved in FRDA. Further studies are mandatory to evaluate thiamine role on FXN regulation, to exclude placebo effect, to verify our clinical results, and to confirm restorative and neuroprotective action of thiamine in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Costantini
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, "Villa Immacolata" Clinic, Strada Sammartinese 65A, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Tiziana Laureti
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Tuscia, Via del Paradiso 47, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Maria Immacolata Pala
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, "Villa Immacolata" Clinic, Strada Sammartinese 65A, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Marco Colangeli
- University Studies Abroad Consortium, University of Tuscia, Via Santa Maria in Gradi 4, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Simona Cavalieri
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Pozzi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, 10126, Turin, Italy
| | - Sandro Salvarani
- Unit of Neurology, ASL3 Villa Scassi Hospital, Corso O. Scassi 1, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | - Carlo Serrati
- Unit of Neurology, IRCCS San Martino University Hospital IST, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberto Fancellu
- Unit of Neurology, ASL3 Villa Scassi Hospital, Corso O. Scassi 1, 16149, Genoa, Italy. .,Unit of Neurology, IRCCS San Martino University Hospital IST, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
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Costantini A, Giorgi R, D'Agostino S, Pala MI. High-dose thiamine improves the symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia. BMJ Case Rep 2013; 2013:bcr-2013-009424. [PMID: 23704441 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterised by progressive gait and limb ataxia, dysarthria, areflexia, loss of position sense and a progressive motor weakness of central origin. Some observations indicate that all symptoms of FRDA ataxia could be the manifestation of a thiamine deficiency because of enzymatic abnormalities. Two patients with FRDA were under rehabilitative treatment from February 2012 to February 2013. The scale for assessment and rating of ataxia was performed. The patient began an intramuscular therapy with 100 mg of thiamine every 3-5 days. Injection of high-dose thiamine was effective in reversing the motor failure. From this clinical observation, it is reasonable to infer that a thiamine deficiency due to enzymatic abnormalities could cause a selective neuronal damage in the centres that are typically affected by this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Costantini
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Villa Immacolata, Viterbo, Italy.
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