Pharmacopsychiatry 2005; 38(4): 178-179
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871241
Letter
A Case Report
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Clioquinol Treatment in Familiar Early Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease

A Case ReportB. Ibach1 , E. Haen1 , J. Marienhagen2 , G. Hajak1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Director: Prof. Dr. H. E. Klein), University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 84, Regensburg, Germany
  • 2Department of Nuclear Medicine (Director: Prof. Dr. C. Eilles), University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 84, Regensburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 31.8.2004 Revised: 1.12.2004

Accepted: 10.1.2005

Publication Date:
18 July 2005 (online)

Recently the metal chelator clioquinol (CQ) has been suggested as a possible option for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We report two patients with early onset of AD [one with a mutant amyloid-precursor-protein (APP) gene] who received long-term treatment with CQ. In both cases focally augmented cerebral glucose metabolism and stabilization but no amelioration of the clinical impression were observed without signs of neurotoxicity. In one case CSF-tau and β-Amyloid42/40 concentrations changed during CQ treatment.

References

  • 1 Bush A I. The metallobiology of Alzheimer's disease.  TINS. 2003;  26 207-214
  • 2 Cherny R A, Atwood C S, Xilinas M E, Gray D N, Jones W D, McLean C A. et al . Treatment with a copper-zinc chelator markedly and rapidly inhibits beta-amyloid accumulation in Alzheimer"s disease transgenic mice.  Neuron. 2001;  30 665-676
  • 3 Clifford Rose F, Gawel M. Clioquinol neurotoxicity: an overview.  Acta Neurol Scan Suppl. 1984;  100 137-145
  • 4 Goate A, Chartier-Harlin M C, Mullan M, Brown J, Crawford F, Fidani L, Giuffra L, Haynes A. et al . Segregation of a missense mutation in the amyloid precursor protein gene with familial Alzheimer's disease.  Nature. 1991;  21;349(6311) 704-706
  • 5 Nakae K, Yamamoto S, Shigematsu I, Kono R. Relation between subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (S.M.O.N.) and clioquinol: nationwide survey.  Lancet. 1973;  1(7796) 171
  • 6 Regland B, Lehmann W, Abedini I, Blennow K, Jonsson M, Karlsson I. et al . Treatment of Alzheimer's disease with clioquinol.  Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2001;  12 408-414
  • 7 Ritchie C W, Bush A I, Mackinnon A, Macfarlane S, Mastwyk M, MacGregor L. et al . Metal-protein attenuation with iodochlorhydroxyquin (clioquinol) targeting Abeta amyloid deposition and toxicity in Alzheimer disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial.  Arch Neurol. 2003;  60 1685-1691
  • 8 Tabira T. Clioquinol's return: Cautions from Japan.  Science. 2001;  292 2251
  • 9 Yassin M S, Ekblom J, Xilinas M, Gottfries C G, Oreland L. Changes in uptake of vitamin B12 and trace metals in brains of mice treated with clioquinol.  J Neurol Sci. 2000;  173 40-44

Bernd Ibach, MD

Memory Disorders Clinic

Geriatric Psychiatry Research Group

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

University of Regensburg

Universitätsstraße 84

93953 Regensburg

Germany

Phone: +49 941 941 1221/2063

Fax: +49 941 2079

Email: bernd.ibach@ klinik.uni-regensburg.de