summary: In this clinical trial, the authors have looked at the role of lamotrigine, a drug that has proved effective in protecting neurons in animal models of MS, in protecting neurons in people with secondary progressive MS. In particular, they studied the effects of this drug compared with placebo on brain volume, and also its impact on the clinical deterioration of the patients over two years. They found that lamotrigine did not have a significant protective effect compared with placebo in terms of brain volume; also, they found that it reduced the clinical deterioration as measured by the walking speed, but did not affect other clinical measures. Further studies are needed to further evaluate the potential effects of this drug.

authors: Raj Kapoor, Julian Furby, Thomas Hayton, Kenneth J Smith, Daniel R Altmann, Robert Brenner, Jeremy Chataway, Richard AC Hughes,

source: Lancet Neurol. 2010 Jul;9(7):681-8. Epub 2010 Jun 8

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