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Riluzole Influences Amino Acid Metabolism In Advanced Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Neural Tissue

Positive clinical effects of Riluzole seen in patients with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be at least partly related to the drug's influence on amino acid metabolism in neural tissues.

Polish researchers have observed a significant decrease of the usually increased glutamate and total amino acids concentrations seen in advanced ALS patients.

They report the decrease in values occurred within the first six months of Riluzole treatment. Values then returned to the initially high levels or even overshot such levels.

Investigators from the Medical University and the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw prospectively studied 17 patients with ALS. Participants all received long-term Riluzole treatment and were evaluated at baseline and after six, 12 and 18 months of Riluzole therapy.

Functional status and serum amino acid levels were both assessed. High performance liquid chromatography was used to analyse serum amino acids.

At baseline, the researchers found increased serum concentrations of glutamate, GABA and total amino acids in ALS patients, particularly in participants with advanced ALS.

The concentrations decreased in the first six months of therapy, before returning to baseline levels or higher.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 2002; 106: 39-43. "Effect of Riluzole on serum amino acids in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis"

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