If HD is immune related then it would be expected that steroids would affect symptoms in a positive way. One small study in 1991 showed that steroids did improve symptoms. By then research money was on finding the HD gene. Discovery of the gene was expected to lead to effective treatment of HD.
Steriods are effective in reducing inflammation but they have serious side effects. --Jerry24-May-2001
From: Riv Neurol 1991 Nov-Dec;61(6):225-7, Nuti A et al.
| SIDEBAR: From Jon Krakauer's 1997 Mt. Everest Thriller Into Thin Air: "A short distance below the South Summit, as the climbers descended into thick clouds and falling snow, Pittman collapsed again and asked Fox to give her an injection of a powerful steroid called dexamethasone. "Dex," as it is known, can temporarily negate the deleterious effects of altitude; following the instructions of Dr. Ingrid Hunt, each member of Fischer's team carried a preprepared syringe of the drug in a plastic tooth- brush case inside his or her down suit, where it wouldn't freeze, for emergencies." |
Neuroleptic drugs represent the current therapy for Huntington's chorea (HC). However neuroleptics can improve involuntary movements, but not functional performance and disease progression.
Several clinical and experimental data suggest the existence of functional relationship between corticosteroids and extrapyramidal system. We administered dexamethasone to six choreics, all female.
Dexamethasone was given i.m. at dose of 4 mg/die for 20 days and 8 mg/die for 20 days more. Dexamethasone at both the doses used, determined significant improvement (p less than 0.05) of dyskinesia, evaluated by AIMS, and manual dexterity, evaluated by Tapping test.
Although at present it is not clear which mechanism are responsible for the dexamethasone favourable effect, it might open new perspectives in HC therapy.