SELEGILINE IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERSOMNOLENCE IN MYOTONIC-DYSTROPHY - A PILOT-STUDY

Patients with myotonic dystrophy frequently complain of hypersomnolerc e, a symptom which seriously restricts their social life. The pathogen esis of this symptom is a matter of debate: it has been attributed to both alveolar hypoventilation and pathological changes in the brainste m. As selegiline has been shown to reduce the number of sleep attacks in narcolepsy, we tested whether hypersomnolence in myotonic dystrophy would respond to the same treatment. Ten patients with myotonic dystr ophy received selegiline/placebo (20 mg daily) in a double-blind cross over trial. We monitored daytime sleepiness by means of a multiple sle ep latency test. Treatment appeared to be well tolerated but did not a lter hypersomnolence in myotonic dystrophy. Further studies to assess the effect of higher doses of selegiline are warranted. (C) 1997 Elsev ier Science B.V.