Abstract
A new drug, 4-aminopyridine, was prepared for use in humans and tested by repeated injections in six patients with myasthenia gravis. The drug caused improvement of muscle strength and neuromuscular transmission as demonstrated by clinical observations and repetitive electrical nerve stimulation. The drug was effective in cases without any other treatment as well as in cases undergoing treatment with anticholinesterases. It is concluded that 4-aminopyridine may be of value as a supplementary drug in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Full text
PDF




Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Cull-Candy S. G., Miledi R., Trautmann A. Acetylcholine-induced channels and transmitter release at human endplates. Nature. 1978 Jan 5;271(5640):74–75. doi: 10.1038/271074a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ELMQVIST D., HOFMANN W. W., KUGELBERG J., QUASTEL D. M. AN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF NEUROMUSCULAR TRANSMISSION IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS. J Physiol. 1964 Nov;174:417–434. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1964.sp007495. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jankowska E., Lundberg A., Rudomin P., Sykova E. Effects of 4-aminopyridine on transmission in excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the spinal cord. Brain Res. 1977 Nov 11;136(2):387–392. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(77)90816-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lemeignan M. Analysis of the action of 4-amino pyridine on the cat lumbar spinal cord. I. Modification of the afferent volley, the monosynaptic discharge amplitude and the polysynaptic evoked responses. Neuropharmacology. 1972 Jul;11(4):551–558. doi: 10.1016/0028-3908(72)90010-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lemeignan M. Analysis of the effects of 4-amino pyridine on the lumbar cord of the cat. II. Modifications of certain spinal inhibitory phenomena, post-tetanic potentiation and dorsal root potentials. Neuropharmacology. 1973 Jul;12(7):641–651. doi: 10.1016/0028-3908(73)90117-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lundh H. Effects of 4-aminopyridine on neuromuscular transmission. Brain Res. 1978 Sep 22;153(2):307–318. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(78)90409-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lundh H., Leander S., Thesleff S. Antagonism of the paralysis produced by botulinum toxin in the rat. The effects of tetraethylammonium, guanidine and 4-aminopyridine. J Neurol Sci. 1977 May;32(1):29–43. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(77)90037-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lundh H., Nilsson O., Rosén I. 4-aminopyridine--a new drug tested in the treatment of Eaton-Lambert syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1977 Nov;40(11):1109–1112. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.40.11.1109. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lundh H., Thesleff S. The mode of action of 4-aminopyridine and guanidine on transmitter release from motor nerve terminals. Eur J Pharmacol. 1977 Apr 21;42(4):411–412. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(77)90176-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Molgo J., Lemeignan M., Lechat P. Modifications de la libération du transmetteur à la jonction neuromusculaire de grenouille sous l'action de l'amino-4 pyridine. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D. 1975 Nov 24;281(21):1637–1639. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Vizi E. S., van Dijk J., Foldes F. F. The effect of 4-aminopyridine on acetylcholine release. J Neural Transm. 1977;41(4):265–274. doi: 10.1007/BF01252021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]