Abstract
The aim of this open pilot study was to establish the profile of tolerability and clinical response of salbutamol (albuterol) in a cohort of young children affected by type II spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Twenty-three children between 30 months and 6 years of age were treated with salbutamol (2 mg three times a day) for 1 year. All children were longitudinally assessed using the Hammersmith motor functional scale 6 months before treatment started (T0), at baseline (T1) and 6 and 12 months later. There was no significant change in function between T0 and T1 assessments, but the functional scores recorded after 6 and 12 months of treatment were significantly higher than those recorded at baseline (p = 0.006). Our results suggest that salbutamol may be beneficial to SMA patients without producing any major side effect. Larger prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 536-540 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Neuromuscular Disorders |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2008 |
Keywords
- β2 Agonists
- Children
- Salbutamol
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Therapy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Neurology