Volume 21, Issue 12 pp. 1775-1778
Short Report

Effect of ultrahigh-dose methylcobalamin on compound muscle action potentials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A double-blind controlled study

Ryuji Kaji MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Ryuji Kaji MD, PhD

Departments of Neurology and Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

Departments of Neurology and Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, JapanSearch for more papers by this author
Mitsuo Kodama MD

Mitsuo Kodama MD

Departments of Neurology and Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

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Atsuko Imamura BS

Atsuko Imamura BS

Departments of Neurology and Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

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Thoru Hashida BS

Thoru Hashida BS

Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

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Nobuo Kohara MD

Nobuo Kohara MD

Departments of Neurology and Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

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Masahiro Ishizu BS

Masahiro Ishizu BS

Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

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Kennichi Inui PhD

Kennichi Inui PhD

Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

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Jun Kimura MD

Jun Kimura MD

Departments of Neurology and Pharmacy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606, Japan

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Abstract

To develop a symptomatic treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we compared the effects of ultrahigh-dose and low-dose (25 and 0.5 mg/day, intramuscularly, for 14 days) methylcobalamin on averaged compound muscle action potential amplitudes (CMAPs) in a double-blind trial. No significant changes in CMAP amplitude were found in 12 patients who had the low-dose treatment at either 2 or 4 weeks after start of treatment. By contrast, 12 patients assigned to the ultrahigh-dose group demonstrated a significant increase at 4 weeks. This method may provide a clinically useful measure to improve or retard muscle wasting, if a larger extended trial fulfills its promise. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21: 1775–1778, 1998

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