NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Despite slight improvements in central conduction time, L-methionine treatment benefits none of the clinical measures of AIDS-associated myelopathy (AM), according to the results of a phase II trial reported in the October 12th issue of Neurology.
In an earlier pilot study, the authors observed clinical and electrophysiologic improvement in some subjects with AM after treatment with high doses of L-methionine.
Based on those preliminary results, Dr. Alessandro Di Rocco from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York and colleagues conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of L-methionine in 50 patients with AM. The subjects received L-methionine 6 g/day in two divided doses.
At 12 weeks, patients treated with L-methionine had a mean improvement of 2.9 msec in central conduction time, the authors report, compared with a mean improvement of 0.5 msec among placebo patients. This difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.17).
There was no difference between placebo and treatment groups in strength, spasticity, and urinary function, the report indicates.
L-methionine treatment was associated with increases in CSF SAM (S-adenosyl-methionine) levels, the researchers note, and the correlation between central conduction time improvement and CSF SAM increase approached significance.
L-methionine was well tolerated, the results indicate, with both groups (L-methionine and placebo) experiencing similar numbers of serious adverse events and overall adverse events.
“This study indicates that L-methionine was well tolerated but ineffective in the treatment of AM,” the authors conclude.
“Further studies are warranted to determine whether L-methionine or other methyl group donors can be beneficial in AM.”
Source: Neurology 2004;63:1270-1275. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Clinical Trials: Environment and Public Health: Epidemiologic Methods: Evaluation Studies: Health: Health Occupations: Health Services Administration: Medicine: Investigative Techniques: Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care): Population Characteristics: Preventive Medicine: Public Health: Quality of Health Care: Specialties, Medical: Epidemiologic Study Characteristics: Treatment Outcome: Outcome Assessment (Health Care): Clinical Trials, Phase II: Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation: Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms: Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment: Biological Sciences: Health CareCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
