NCT00639119

Effect of Ropinirole Hydrochloride in Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy of Unverricht-Lundborg Type

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 16 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Turku · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The progressive myoclonus epilepsy of the Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD) type is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive stimulus-sensitive and action-related myoclonic jerks. The mainstay of the current treatment in myoclonic epilepsies including ULD are valproic acid and clonazepam among several other antiepileptic drugs. Unfortunately the disease may often be resistant to antiepileptic drugs leading to major reductions in daily activities and disability to walk without assistance. Therefore new treatment modalities are needed. Experimental treatments of ULD patients with dopamine agonists have relieved myoclonic symptoms. Further, in accordance with this, a recent study indicates decreased dopaminergic neurotransmission in the basal ganglia of ULD patients, determined by PET. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of dopaminergic medication (ropinirole hydrochloride, Requip ®) on relieving the symptoms of ULD patients. Patients will undergo sixteen weeks intervention period. The main efficacy determinants are changes in unified myoclonus rating scale (UMRS), nerve conduction, multi-modality evoked potentials including visual evoked potential (VEP), somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), blink reflex habituation and electroencephalography (EEG). Tolerability and the safety of the medication are determined. The study setting is placebo controlled, crossover, two-group and double blind study.

Conditions

• Unverricht-Lundborg Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Ropinirole	8 + 8 weeks cross-over placebo controlled

Timeline

• Start date: 2007-08-01
• Primary completion: 2008-08-01
• First posted: 2008-03-19
• Last updated: 2008-03-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Finland