[Pilot study of Ginkgolide B, a PAF-acether specific inhibitor in the treatment of acute outbreaks of multiple sclerosis]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 1992;148(4):299-301.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Ten patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in acute relapse were treated with a five-day course of intravenous ginkgolide B, a specific inhibitor of PAF-acether. Eight patients had improvement of their neurological score, beginning 2 to 6 days after the initiation of therapy. This improvement was sustained in 5 patients and only transient in 3. Two out of these 3 patients with secondary failure and the other 2 who did not respond to ginkgolide therapy, received i.v. methylprednisolone. Three patients experienced mild side effects under ginkgolide therapy but none of the patients had any serious adverse effect. A controlled randomized study is underway, in order to confirm these results and test higher dosages and more prolonged administration.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diterpenes*
  • Female
  • Ginkgolides
  • Humans
  • Lactones / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Pilot Projects
  • Platelet Activating Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Diterpenes
  • Ginkgolides
  • Lactones
  • Platelet Activating Factor
  • ginkgolide B