Aripiprazole in the treatment of Huntington’s disease: a case series

Abstract

Andrea Ciammola1, Jenny Sassone1, Clarissa Colciago1, Niccolò E Mencacci1, Barbara Poletti1, Andrea Ciarmiello2, Ferdinando Squitieri3, Vincenzo Silani11Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, “Dino Ferrari” Centre, University of Milan Medical School – IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy; 2Unit of Nuclear Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, Italy; 3Neurogenetics Unit, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), ItalyObjectives: The aim of the study was to describe the effects of aripiprazole, a new atypical antipsychotic drug that acts as a partial dopamine agonist on motor, behavioral and cognitive functions in patients with genetically confirmed Huntington’s disease (HD).Methods and results: Three HD patients were evaluated for Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale part I and II and Beck Depression Inventory at baseline, after two months and one-year treatment. Aripiprazole effectively controlled involuntary movements and psychiatric symptoms, with effects on cognitive functions.Conclusions: Our case reports suggest that aripiprazole is well tolerated, remarkably improving some of the motor and behavioral symptoms in patients affected by HD. Randomized, controlled, long-term studies are warranted.Keywords: Huntington’s disease, aripiprazole, treatment, chorea