Randomized Study of 3,4-Diaminopyridine for Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
3,4-diaminopyridine
Autoimmune Diseases+18
+ Immune System Diseases
+ Myasthenia Gravis
Treatment Study
Summary
Study start date: August 1, 1994
Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study. Patients are randomized to receive 3,4-diaminopyridine (DAP) or placebo orally 3 times daily for 5 days, after which treatment is discontinued and patients are observed for at least 24 hours. At the end of the blinded study, patients may then elect to take open label DAP orally 3 times daily for 6 months; those who do so are monitored for clinical effects and side effects for at least 6 months.
Protocol
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.26 patients to be enrolled
Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.Treatment Study
Eligibility
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.Any sex
Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.Over 18 Years
Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.Healthy volunteers not allowed
If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.Conditions
Pathology
Criteria
PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA: --Disease Characteristics-- Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) based on weakness that predominates in proximal limb muscles and electromyography (EMG) findings of small amplitude muscle responses to nerve stimulation, which decrease further during nerve stimulation at 5 Hz and which increase at least 2-fold after maximum voluntary contraction of the muscle for 10-20 seconds Quantified Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) clinical score at least 5 --Prior/Concurrent Therapy-- Chemotherapy: No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Patients receiving immunosuppressants must be on the same dose of medication for at least 3 months prior to study entry Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: No concurrent surgery Other: Patients receiving cholinesterase inhibitors must discontinue the medication at study entry if possible, or else be on the same dose of medication for at least 1 month prior to study entry --Patient Characteristics-- Hematopoietic: No significant hematologic disease Hepatic: No significant hepatic disease Renal: No significant renal disease Cardiovascular: No cardiac arrhythmia or significant cardiac disease Neurologic: No seizure disorder Other: Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test required of fertile women Effective contraception required of fertile women