Placebo Controlled Trial of Dextromethorphan in Rett Syndrome

Summary

Dr. Sakkubai Naidu, Principal Investigator, is initiating a double blinded placebo controlled clinical drug trial using dextromethorphan (DM) in Rett Syndrome (RTT), at the Pediatric Clinical Research Unit (PCRU) of the Johns Hopkins Hospital/Kennedy Krieger Institute. Funding source , FDA-00PD It has been shown that receptors for a certain brain chemical called glutamate, in particular the NMDA type, are increased in the brain of young RTT patients (\<10 years of age). This chemical and its receptors, when in excess, cause harmful over-stimulation of nerve cells in the brain, contributing in part to the seizures, behavioral problems, and learning disabilities in RTT. The investigators propose to initiate a specific treatment using DM to counter/block the effects of this brain chemical and its excessive receptors to improve the ill effects of increased glutamate/NMDA receptors, because of DM's identified ability to block NMDA receptors. DM is available for human consumption. Infants and children with respiratory infections and cough, as well as non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, are treated with DM, which has been well tolerated.

Timeline

Start

2012-03

Primary completion

2016-10-26

Completion

2016-10-26

Drugs

Indications