Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid treatment in Huntington's disease: A placebo-controlled clinical trial

Mov Disord. 2015 Sep;30(10):1426-9. doi: 10.1002/mds.26308. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that treatment with ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may improve motor function in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) with cytosine-adenine-guanine repeat numbers of <45.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 6-month trial compared the effects of ethyl-EPA versus placebo on 290 subjects with mild-to-moderate HD. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to 6 months in the Total Motor Score 4 (TMS-4) component of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in UHDRS subscores and Clinical Global Impression (CGI).

Results: No significant differences in TMS-4 scores were noted between treatment groups. Similarly, there were no significant differences between groups on any of the UHDRS subscores or CGI scores.

Conclusion: Ethyl-EPA was not beneficial in patients with HD during 6 months of placebo-controlled evaluation.

Keywords: Huntington's disease; clinical trial; eicosapentaenoic acid; ethyl-EPA.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*

Substances

  • eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid