Drugs do little for PPS
Researchers are studying the effectiveness of several drugs to help relieve some of the symptoms of post-polio syndrome (PPS). However, the results to date have been far from encouraging. Here’s a summary of some recent findings:
• Human growth hormone. This drug has been found to increase the production of the insulin-like hormone IGF-1 in the body, which stimulates nerve cells to sprout additional extensions. This drug was tested on six PPS patients. It produced little or nor improvement in the patients’ muscle strength, endurance, or recovery time following fatigue. However, researchers suggested that longer-term treatment might help some PPS patients.
• Bromocriptine mesylate. This drug is currently used to treat such conditions as Parkinson’s disease. It improved symptoms of fatigue in three out of five PPS patients. Researchers are currently planning larger studies to confirm the benefits of this drug.
• Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor (rhlGF-1). Researchers studied the effects of this drug in 22 PPS patients. Patients demonstrated no beneficial effect on fatigue, but did recover more quickly after fatiguing exercise.
• Pyridostigmine. This drug is used to treat muscle fatigue associated with the neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis. In an open trial of 27 PPS patients, more than half of the subjects reported less fatigue after receiving pyridostigmine. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 27 PPS researchers found that patients taking pyridostigmine showed minimal improvements in strength and fatigue levels.
For more information on PPS research, contact: International Polio Network, 4207 Lindell Blvd. #110, St. Louis, MO 63108-2915. Telephone: (314) 534-0475. Fax: (314) 534-5070. E-mail: [email protected].
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