Bumetanide to Treat Parkinson Disease: A Report of 4 Cases

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2016 Jan-Feb;39(1):57-9. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000114.

Abstract

Relying on recent experimental data in 2 animal models of Parkinson disease (PD), we have tested the effects of the loop diuretic bumetanide as an add-on treatment to dopaminergic drugs in 4 volunteered patients with PD using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Bumetanide is a specific antagonist of the chloride importer NKCC1 (sodium/potassium/chloride cotransporter isoform 1) that ameliorates neuronal inhibition by reducing intracellular chloride levels in a variety of pathological conditions. Bumetanide is however not labeled for use in PD. We report an improvement of PD motor symptoms in the 4 patients treated with bumetanide (5 mg/d for 2 months). Bumetanide also improved gait and freezing in 2 of these patients. Our results suggest that bumetanide is well tolerated and call for double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trials to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of bumetanide.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bumetanide / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors
  • Bumetanide