ACUTE CHALLENGE WITH APOMORPHINE IN HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE - A DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY

Apomorphine (1.5 or 3 mg) or placebo was acutely administered to chore ic patients affected by Huntington's disease in a double-blind fashion . The patients were evaluated before the administration, and at 15-min intervals for 2 h afterward, by means of a rating scale for Huntingto n's disease. As compared to baseline, the total score improved by 38.5 4% after 1.5 mg and by 30.41% after 3 mg; no variations were observed after placebo. Several items of the scale improved after the administr ation of 1.5 mg. An average 35.25% improvement was observed in items m easuring the intensity of chorea (at rest, with arms outstretched, dur ing conversation, and voluntary movements of the limbs); in addition, motor impersistence (as measured by tongue protrusion) and the capabil ity to suppress associated movements (as measured by head movements du ring saccades) improved by an average of 31.46 and 61%, respectively. Some items of the scale improved after the administration of 3 mg. Ite ms measuring the intensity of chorea improved by an average 30.41%; in addition, the extent of vertical gaze improved by 63.77%. These data indicate that apomorphine brings about a transient symptomatic improve ment of chorea and of other associated clinical features in Huntington 's disease. The time course observed for the antichoreic activity is o nly partially consistent with the antiparkinsonian action of apomorphi ne.