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Aripiprazole in the treatment of Huntington’s disease: a case series
Authors Ciammola A, Sassone J, Mencacci N, Colciago C, Squitieri F, Silani V, Poletti B, Ciarmiello A
Published 25 November 2008 Volume 2009:5 Pages 1—4
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S4165
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 4
Andrea Ciammola1, Jenny Sassone1, Clarissa Colciago1, Niccolò E Mencacci1, Barbara Poletti1, Andrea Ciarmiello2, Ferdinando Squitieri3, Vincenzo Silani1
1Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, “Dino Ferrari” Centre, University of Milan Medical School – IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy; 2Unit of Nuclear Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, Italy; 3Neurogenetics Unit, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy
Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the effects of aripiprazole, a new atypical antipsychotic drug that acts as a partial dopamine agonist on motor, behavioral and cognitive functions in patients with genetically confirmed Huntington’s disease (HD).
Methods and results: Three HD patients were evaluated for Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale part I and II and Beck Depression Inventory at baseline, after two months and one-year treatment. Aripiprazole effectively controlled involuntary movements and psychiatric symptoms, with effects on cognitive functions.
Conclusions: Our case reports suggest that aripiprazole is well tolerated, remarkably improving some of the motor and behavioral symptoms in patients affected by HD. Randomized, controlled, long-term studies are warranted.
Keywords: Huntington’s disease, aripiprazole, treatment, chorea
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