%0 Journal Article %1 Hurst2002 %A Hurst, Daniel L %A Lajara-Nanson, Walter %D 2002 %J J Child Neurol %K Adolescent; Benzhydryl Compounds; Body Weight; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Follow-Up Studies; Gait; Humans; Male; Physical Therapy Modalities; Videotape Recording %N 3 %P 169--172 %T Use of modafinil in spastic cerebral palsy. %V 17 %X After an initial patient with cerebral palsy had an apparent dramatic reduction in spasticity when placed on modafinil, a pilot study was undertaken in 10 pediatric patients to confirm or refute the benefit of modafinil in cerebral palsy. Nine of 10 patients completed the 1-month treatment period. The study patients were treated with 50 or 100 mg of modafinil once daily in the morning. An assessment was made at baseline and at 1 month on treatment. All patients had a clinical examination, Modified Ashworth Scale scores (spasticity) determined by a physical therapist, and videotaping of ambulation. In comparing visit 1 (baseline) and visit 2 (on treatment), statistically significant improvement in the modified Ashworth Scale scores was noted in seven of the nine patients completing the study (P = .0080). A blinded review of the videotapes did not show statistically significant differences in ambulation, but the speed (ft/sec) of gait improved in six of the nine patients (P = .0192). In this study, modafinil, a newly released central stimulant for narcolepsy, showed benefit in treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. A second larger, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial is planned to confirm these initial results and observations. Modafinil appears to benefit spastic cerebral palsy by a yet to be determined mechanism; however, a primary effect of modafinil on brainstem structures is hypothesized to reduce spasticity of central origin.

@article{Hurst2002, abstract = {After an initial patient with cerebral palsy had an apparent dramatic reduction in spasticity when placed on modafinil, a pilot study was undertaken in 10 pediatric patients to confirm or refute the benefit of modafinil in cerebral palsy. Nine of 10 patients completed the 1-month treatment period. The study patients were treated with 50 or 100 mg of modafinil once daily in the morning. An assessment was made at baseline and at 1 month on treatment. All patients had a clinical examination, Modified Ashworth Scale scores (spasticity) determined by a physical therapist, and videotaping of ambulation. In comparing visit 1 (baseline) and visit 2 (on treatment), statistically significant improvement in the modified Ashworth Scale scores was noted in seven of the nine patients completing the study (P = .0080). A blinded review of the videotapes did not show statistically significant differences in ambulation, but the speed (ft/sec) of gait improved in six of the nine patients (P = .0192). In this study, modafinil, a newly released central stimulant for narcolepsy, showed benefit in treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. A second larger, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial is planned to confirm these initial results and observations. Modafinil appears to benefit spastic cerebral palsy by a yet to be determined mechanism; however, a primary effect of modafinil on brainstem structures is hypothesized to reduce spasticity of central origin.}, added-at = {2014-07-19T20:28:57.000+0200}, author = {Hurst, Daniel L and Lajara-Nanson, Walter}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2fad83052f74eaf43f32a5e8ffc89bc10/ar0berts}, groups = {public}, interhash = {9cd3bb24002454fe5c70195e730b8239}, intrahash = {fad83052f74eaf43f32a5e8ffc89bc10}, journal = {J Child Neurol}, keywords = {Adolescent; Benzhydryl Compounds; Body Weight; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Follow-Up Studies; Gait; Humans; Male; Physical Therapy Modalities; Videotape Recording}, month = Mar, number = 3, pages = {169--172}, pmid = {12026230}, timestamp = {2014-07-19T20:28:57.000+0200}, title = {Use of modafinil in spastic cerebral palsy.}, username = {ar0berts}, volume = 17, year = 2002 }