Session Information
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Session Title: Neurophysiology (Non-PD)
Session Time: 1:15pm-2:45pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: To reveal effects of TRH therapy on the prism adaptation task in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD).
Background: TRH [Thyrotropin releasing hormone (protirelin tartrate)] was reported to improve cerebellar ataxia and TRH therapy is widely used in Japan as a treatment for ataxia in patients with SCD. However, effects of TRH therapy have not been fully evaluated with objective methods. The prism adaptation task is a learning task which can be one of objective markers of cerebellar functions.
Methods: 7 SCD patients (4 men, 3 women, 3 MSA-C patients, 2 SCA3 patients, 2 SCA6 patients) participated in this study. We obtained the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) score and the after effects (AEs) of the prism adaptation task before and after TRH therapy (intravenous injection of protirelin tartrate 2mg per day, for 14 days). We evaluated the TRH effects by comparing these values before and after TRH therapy. In prism adaptation task, we asked the subjects to reach to a target while viewing the scene through wedge prisms. The prisms were computationally controlled, making it possible to impose the full perturbation abruptly in one trial.
Results: SARA score was significantly improved after TRH therapy (p=0.039), while AE of the prism adaptation task did not differ significantly changed between the two conditions (p=0.079). Multiple regression analysis revealed that improvement of SARA score was mainly related with improvement of “Stance” category score.
Conclusions: The TRH therapy improved axial balance but did not influence the prism adaptation in SCD patients. Our result of gait improvement is consistent with previous finding that TRH therapy mainly improves postural and gait function through modulation of abnormal noradrenergic metabolism in SCD patients. The present results suggest that the cerebellar mechanisms for the postural or gait function should be different from those for the motor adaptation.
References: 1.Sobue I, Takayanagi T, Nakanishi T, Tsubaki T, Uono M, Kinoshita M, Igata A, Miyazaki M, Yoshida M, Ando K, et al. Controlled trial of thyrotropin releasing hormone tartrate in ataxia of spinocerebellar degenerations. J Neurol Sci. 1983;6:235-48.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
T. Shimizu, R. Hanajima, R. Tsutsumi, K. Shimizu, N. Tominaga, Y. Ugawa, K. Nishiyama. Effects of TRH therapy on the prism adaptation task in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration. [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effects-of-trh-therapy-on-the-prism-adaptation-task-in-patients-with-spinocerebellar-degeneration/. Accessed May 19, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effects-of-trh-therapy-on-the-prism-adaptation-task-in-patients-with-spinocerebellar-degeneration/