RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies suggest that fluoxetine has neuroprotective properties that might reduce axonal degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether fluoxetine slows accumulation of disability in progressive MS. METHODS: In a double-blind multicenter phase 2 trial, patients with primary or secondary progressive MS were randomized to fluoxetine 40 mg/day or placebo for a period of 108 weeks. Clinical assessments were performed every 12 weeks by trained study nurses who visited the patients at their home. The primary outcome was the time to a 12-week confirmed 20% increase in the Timed 25 Foot Walk or 9-Hole Peg test. Secondary outcomes included the Hauser ambulation index, cognitive tests, fatigue, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: In the efficacy analysis, 69 patients received fluoxetine and 68 patients received placebo. Using the log-rank test (p = 0.258) and Cox regression analysis (p = 0.253), we found no significant difference in the primary outcome between the two groups. Due to an unexpected slow rate of progression in the placebo group, there was insufficient statistical power to detect a potential benefit of fluoxetine. We found no differences between the two groups for secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: The trial failed to demonstrate a neuroprotective effect of fluoxetine in patients with progressive MS.
Asunto(s)
Fluoxetina/uso terapéutico , Esclerosis Múltiple Crónica Progresiva/tratamiento farmacológico , Inhibidores Selectivos de la Recaptación de Serotonina/uso terapéutico , Ensayos Clínicos Fase II como Asunto , HumanosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Wall-eyed bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia (WEBINO) is a variant syndrome of internuclear ophthalmoplegia, consisting of primary gaze exotropia, adduction impairment, nystagmus of the abducting eye, and vertical gaze-evoked nystagmus. It seems to be most frequently associated with multiple sclerosis, although other etiologies such as brainstem ischemia or hydrocephalus have also been described. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented with subacute progressive oculomotor disturbances, resulting in the development of a WEBINO over a few days. Fundoscopy showed papilledema first in the right and afterwards also in the left eye. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal. Lumbar puncture demonstrated an opening pressure of 38 cm H2O, without pleiocytosis and with normal protein. As no other cause of intracranial hypertension could be identified by imaging or extensive biochemical testing, the patient was treated with acetazolamide for idiopathic intracranial hypertension. As there was further progression despite increase of acetazolamide dosing, more aggressive therapy was pursued, and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed by our neurosurgeons. Clinical follow-up showed progressive recovery of normal oculomotor function and disappearance of papilledema over the course of 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first case description of a patient with WEBINO and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The diagnosis is supported by the very high opening pressure, the absence of neuroimaging abnormalities, the papilledema, and the response to ventriculoperitoneal drainage.
Asunto(s)
Trastornos de la Motilidad Ocular/etiología , Seudotumor Cerebral/complicaciones , Adulto , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Femenino , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia MagnéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Currently available disease-modifying treatments acting by modifying the immune response are ineffective in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), which is caused by a widespread axonal degeneration. Mechanisms suspected to be involved in this widespread axonal degeneration are reduced axonal energy metabolism, axonal glutamate toxicity, and reduced cerebral blood flow. Fluoxetine might theoretically reduce axonal degeneration in MS because it stimulates energy metabolism through enhancing glycogenolysis, stimulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and dilates cerebral arterioles. The current document presents the protocol of a clinical trial to test the hypothesis that fluoxetine slows down the progressive phase of MS. METHODS/DESIGN: The FLUOX-PMS trial is a multi-center, randomized, controlled and double-blind clinical study. A total of 120 patients with the diagnosis of either secondary or primary progressive MS will be treated either by fluoxetine (40 mg daily) or placebo for a total period of 108 weeks. The primary endpoint is the time to confirmed disease progression defined as either at least a 20% increase in the timed 25-Foot Walk or at least a 20% increase in the 9-Hole Peg Test. Secondary endpoints include the Hauser ambulation index, cognitive changes, fatigue, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and in a small subgroup optical coherence tomography. DISCUSSION: The FLUOX-PMS trial will gives us information as to whether fluoxetine has neuroprotective effects in patients with progressive MS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Eudra-CT: 2011-003775-11.