Fampridine for Symptomatic Treatment in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study.

What was studied

This trial tested fampridine in people with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or CIDP. All still had symptoms. They were on stable immunoglobulin treatment. Each person took fampridine 10 mg for 4 weeks and placebo for 4 weeks. A washout came between. Neither patients nor doctors knew which was which. The main outcomes were a walking test and a hand peg test.

What they found

Fampridine did not differ from placebo on the walking test or the peg test. Grip strength and R-ODS scores worsened during fampridine compared with placebo. Other clinical outcomes showed no differences. One nerve signal, median nerve CMAP amplitude, rose during fampridine. Other nerve measures did not change. No serious adverse events occurred. Side effects were mostly mild.

What it means for patients

The authors say the study did not show a clinical gain from fampridine. This was in CIDP with residual disability. They say targeting ion channel problems remains of interest. They say other strategies may be needed.

Why it is not certain yet

Each treatment lasted only 4 weeks. The trial tested only people who still had symptoms on stable immunoglobulin. Results were adjusted for many comparisons. The abstract does not say how long any effect could last.

Source

Fampridine for Symptomatic Treatment in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study.

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