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Does abnormal neuronal excitability exist in myotonic dystrophy)?�I. Effects of the antiarrhythmic drug hydroquinidine on slow saccadic eye movements
- Source :
- Neurological Sciences. 21:73-80
- Publication Year :
- 2000
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2000.
-
Abstract
- The abnormal neuronal excitability hypothesized in myotonic dystrophy (MD) might contribute to psychomotor and behavioral disturbances of MD patients. To gain new insights into the pathophysiology of MD, we determined whether the antiarrhythmic drug hydroquinidine would ameliorate slow saccadic eye movements (SEMs), apathy and hypersomnia in MD patients. SEMs were selected as simple modality for psychomotor investigation. The study was conducted in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover manner. Ten ambulatory patients without contraindications to hydroquinidine administration were enrolled. Hydroquinidine (450 mg/day) or placebo was given orally for 6 weeks with a washout period of 6 weeks between treatments. SEMs were recorded by electrooculography and analyzed by a computer system. Two patients withdrew in the first week of active treatment because of nausea and epigastralgia. Hydroquinidine significantly increased the normalized peak saccadic velocity and shortened the saccadic reaction time compared to placebo. The drug's effects on apathy and hypersomnia are presented in a companion paper.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Time Factors
Neurology
Nausea
Dermatology
Placebo
Myotonic dystrophy
Double-Blind Method
Saccades
medicine
Humans
Myotonic Dystrophy
Apathy
Slow saccadic eye movements
Aged
Neurons
Cross-Over Studies
medicine.diagnostic_test
General Medicine
Electrooculography
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Quinidine
Saccadic masking
Psychiatry and Mental health
Treatment Outcome
Anesthesia
Female
Neurology (clinical)
medicine.symptom
Psychology
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15903478 and 15901874
- Volume :
- 21
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Neurological Sciences
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....98fce6f060e4af103af2a153ffbd3b38