Clinical Trial: Trial of Valproic Acid in Patients With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (Depakine)

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial of Valproic Acid in Patients With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Brief Summary: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disorder, clinically characterized by parkinsonism with prominent axial involvement and postural instability, bulbar symptoms, supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, and executive dysfunction. Abnormal neuronal and glial tau aggregations affecting the basal ganglia and selective brainstem structures result in dysfunction of the five frontosubcortical circuits and brainstem functions. There is no effective treatment for PSP. One of the key feature in the aggregation of tau is its phosphorylation by kinases such as glycogen synthase kinase 3b (GSK3b). Recent reports have shown that valproic acid was able to inhibit the activity of GSK3b and could exert a neuroprotective effect through this inhibition. The investigators thus decided to conduct this controlled study to assess the putative neuroprotective effects in patients with PSP.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Nantes University Hospital

Current Primary Outcome: PSPRS score (specific score for PSP) [ Time Frame: This score will be measured every three months during the two-year follow up of the study ]

Original Primary Outcome: PSPRS score (specific score for PSP)This score will be measured every three months during the two-year follow up of the study

Current Secondary Outcome: Neuropsychological evaluation [ Time Frame: inclusion, one year and two years follow up ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Neuropsychological evaluation at inclusion, one year and two years follow up

Information By: Nantes University Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: October 10, 2006
Date Started: November 2006
Date Completion:
Last Updated: November 2, 2012
Last Verified: May 2011