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Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements... 2023Episodic ataxia (EA), characterized by recurrent attacks of cerebellar dysfunction, is the manifestation of a group of rare autosomal dominant inherited disorders. EA1... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Episodic ataxia (EA), characterized by recurrent attacks of cerebellar dysfunction, is the manifestation of a group of rare autosomal dominant inherited disorders. EA1 and EA2 are most frequently encountered, caused by mutations in and . EA3-8 are reported in rare families. Advances in genetic testing have broadened the and phenotypes, and detected EA as an unusual presentation of several other genetic disorders. Additionally, there are various secondary causes of EA and mimicking disorders. Together, these can pose diagnostic challenges for neurologists.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed in October 2022 for 'episodic ataxia' and 'paroxysmal ataxia', restricted to publications in the last 10 years to focus on recent clinical advances. Clinical, genetic, and treatment characteristics were summarized.
RESULTS
EA1 and EA2 phenotypes have further broadened. In particular, EA2 may be accompanied by other paroxysmal disorders of childhood with chronic neuropsychiatric features. New treatments for EA2 include dalfampridine and fampridine, in addition to 4-aminopyridine and acetazolamide. There are recent proposals for EA9-10. EA may also be caused by gene mutations associated with chronic ataxias (), epilepsy syndromes (), GLUT-1, mitochondrial disorders (), metabolic disorders (Maple syrup urine disease, Hartnup disease, type I citrullinemia, thiamine and biotin metabolism defects), and others. Secondary causes of EA are more commonly encountered than primary EA (vascular, inflammatory, toxic-metabolic). EA can be misdiagnosed as migraine, peripheral vestibular disorders, anxiety, and functional symptoms. Primary and secondary EA are frequently treatable which should prompt a search for the cause.
DISCUSSION
EA may be overlooked or misdiagnosed for a variety of reasons, including phenotype-genotype variability and clinical overlap between primary and secondary causes. EA is highly treatable, so it is important to consider in the differential diagnosis of paroxysmal disorders. Classical EA1 and EA2 phenotypes prompt single gene test and treatment pathways. For atypical phenotypes, next generation genetic testing can aid diagnosis and guide treatment. Updated classification systems for EA are discussed which may assist diagnosis and management.
Topics: Humans; Ataxia; Cerebellar Ataxia; Acetazolamide; Mutation
PubMed: 37008993
DOI: 10.5334/tohm.747 -
European Journal of Heart Failure Sep 2022To describe the baseline characteristics of participants in the Acetazolamide in Decompensated Heart Failure with Volume Overload (ADVOR) trial and compare these with... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
AIMS
To describe the baseline characteristics of participants in the Acetazolamide in Decompensated Heart Failure with Volume Overload (ADVOR) trial and compare these with other contemporary diuretic trials in acute heart failure (AHF).
METHODS AND RESULTS
ADVOR recruited 519 patients with AHF, clinically evident volume overload, elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and maintenance loop diuretic therapy prior to admission. All participants received standardized loop diuretics and were randomized towards once daily intravenous acetazolamide (500 mg) versus placebo, stratified according to study centre and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (≤40% vs. >40%). The primary endpoint was successful decongestion assessed by a dedicated score indicating no more than trace oedema and no other signs of congestion after three consecutive days of treatment without need for escalating treatment. Mean age was 78 years, 63% were men, mean LVEF was 43%, and median NT-proBNP 6173 pg/ml. The median clinical congestion score was 4 with an EuroQol-5 dimensions health utility index of 0.6. Patients with LVEF ≤40% were more often male, had more ischaemic heart disease, higher levels of NT-proBNP and less atrial fibrillation. Compared with diuretic trials in AHF, patients enrolled in ADVOR were considerably older with higher NT-proBNP levels, reflecting the real-world clinical situation.
CONCLUSION
ADVOR is the largest randomized diuretic trial in AHF, investigating acetazolamide to improve decongestion on top of standardized loop diuretics. The elderly enrolled population with poor quality of life provides a good representation of the real-world AHF population. The pragmatic design will provide novel insights in the diuretic treatment of patients with AHF.
Topics: Acetazolamide; Aged; Diuretics; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Male; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Quality of Life; Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; Stroke Volume; Ventricular Function, Left; Water-Electrolyte Imbalance
PubMed: 35733283
DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.2587 -
European Journal of Heart Failure Nov 2019To investigate the effects of acetazolamide on natriuresis, decongestion, kidney function and neurohumoral activation in acute heart failure (AHF). (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
AIMS
To investigate the effects of acetazolamide on natriuresis, decongestion, kidney function and neurohumoral activation in acute heart failure (AHF).
METHODS AND RESULTS
This prospective, two-centre study included 34 AHF patients on loop diuretics with volume overload. All had a serum sodium concentration < 135 mmol/L and/or serum urea/creatinine ratio > 50 and/or an admission serum creatinine increase of > 0.3 mg/dL compared to baseline. Patients were randomised towards acetazolamide 250-500 mg daily plus bumetanide 1-2 mg bid vs. high-dose loop diuretics (bumetanide bid with daily dose twice the oral maintenance dose). The primary endpoint was natriuresis after 24 h. Natriuresis after 24 h was similar in the combinational treatment vs. loop diuretic only arm (264 ± 126 vs. 234 ± 133 mmol; P = 0.515). Loop diuretic efficiency, defined as natriuresis corrected for loop diuretic dose, was higher in the group receiving acetazolamide (84 ± 46 vs. 52 ± 42 mmol/mg bumetanide; P = 0.048). More patients in the combinational treatment arm had an increase in serum creatinine levels > 0.3 mg/dL (P = 0.046). N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide reduction and peak neurohumoral activation within 72 h were comparable among treatment arms. There was a non-significant trend towards lower all-cause mortality or heart failure readmissions in the group receiving acetazolamide with low-dose loop diuretics vs. high-dose loop diuretic monotherapy (P = 0.098).
CONCLUSION
Addition of acetazolamide increases the natriuretic response to loop diuretics compared to an increase in loop diuretic dose in AHF at high risk for diuretic resistance.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01973335.
Topics: Acetazolamide; Adult; Aged; Bumetanide; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Kidney Function Tests; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuresis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 31074184
DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.1478 -
Epilepsia Open Sep 2022Acetazolamide is an old drug used as an antiepileptic agent, amongst other indications. The drug is seldom used, primarily due to perceived poor efficacy and adverse... (Review)
Review
Acetazolamide is an old drug used as an antiepileptic agent, amongst other indications. The drug is seldom used, primarily due to perceived poor efficacy and adverse events. Acetazolamide acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, of which there are several subtypes in humans. Acetazolamide causes an acidification of the intracellular and extracellular environments activating acid-sensing ion channels, and these may account for the anti-seizure effects of acetazolamide. Other potential mechanisms are modulation of neuroinflammation and attenuation of high-frequency oscillations. The overall effect increases the seizure threshold in critical structures such as the hippocampus. The evidence for its clinical efficacy was from 12 observational studies of 941 patients. The 50% responder rate was 49%, 20% of patients were rendered seizure-free, and 30% were noted to have had at least one adverse event. We conclude that the evidence from several observational studies may overestimate efficacy because they lack a comparator; hence, this drug would need further randomized placebo-controlled trials to assess effectiveness and harm.
Topics: Acetazolamide; Anticonvulsants; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; Carbonic Anhydrases; Humans
PubMed: 35673961
DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12619 -
The American Journal of Medicine Mar 2021
Topics: Acetazolamide; Altitude Sickness; Humans; Ibuprofen
PubMed: 33637189
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.07.005 -
Neurosurgery Clinics of North America Jul 2024Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is defined by headaches and a decline in visual acuity due to increased intracranial pressure. Treatment options historically...
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is defined by headaches and a decline in visual acuity due to increased intracranial pressure. Treatment options historically included weight loss, acetazolamide, and/or cerebrospinal fluid diversion surgery. Recent understanding of the contributions of dural venous sinus hypertension and stenosis has led to venous sinus stenting as a treatment option.
Topics: Humans; Acetazolamide; Cranial Sinuses; Intracranial Hypertension; Pseudotumor Cerebri; Stents
PubMed: 38782521
DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2024.02.001 -
European Journal of Pharmaceutical... May 2020As a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and a methylated lipophilic analogue of acetazolamide, Methazolamide has higher lipid solubility, less plasma protein binding and renal... (Review)
Review
As a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and a methylated lipophilic analogue of acetazolamide, Methazolamide has higher lipid solubility, less plasma protein binding and renal excretion, and fewer side effects, compared to acetazolamide. Methazolamide can increase systemic metabolic acidosis and sequentially improve ventilation and oxygenation level. The increased oxygenation level leads to reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, relived cerebral edema, mitigated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, abrogated hypoxic fatigue, and decreased excessive erythrocytosis. In addition to the effect as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, methazolamide directly activates the transcription factor anti-oxidative nuclear factor-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and inhibits interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release. These pharmacological functions of methazolamide are beneficial for the prevention and treatment of high-altitude illnesses. Besides, methazolamide causes less fatigue side effects than acetazolamide does. It is also worth noting that several studies suggested that a lower dose of methazolamide has similar prophylaxis and treatment efficacy in acute mountain sickness (AMS) to a higher dose of acetazolamide. Given methazolamide's advantages over acetazolamide, methazolamide may thus represent an alternative for acetazolamide when taken for high-altitude illnesses prophylaxis and treatment. However, more in-depth clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate this efficacy of methazolamide.
Topics: Acetazolamide; Altitude Sickness; Humans; Hypoxia; Methazolamide; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Polycythemia; Vasoconstriction
PubMed: 32251722
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105326 -
Revue Medicale Suisse Nov 2022
Topics: Humans; Acetazolamide; Heart Failure
PubMed: 36326230
DOI: 10.53738/REVMED.2022.18.802.2083