Responses

Download PDFPDF

Primary lateral sclerosis: diagnosis and management
Compose Response

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
Author Information
First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'.
Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'.
Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com
Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'.
Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.
Statement of Competing Interests

PLEASE NOTE:

  • A rapid response is a moderated but not peer reviewed online response to a published article in a BMJ journal; it will not receive a DOI and will not be indexed unless it is also republished as a Letter, Correspondence or as other content. Find out more about rapid responses.
  • We intend to post all responses which are approved by the Editor, within 14 days (BMJ Journals) or 24 hours (The BMJ), however timeframes cannot be guaranteed. Responses must comply with our requirements and should contribute substantially to the topic, but it is at our absolute discretion whether we publish a response, and we reserve the right to edit or remove responses before and after publication and also republish some or all in other BMJ publications, including third party local editions in other countries and languages
  • Our requirements are stated in our rapid response terms and conditions and must be read. These include ensuring that: i) you do not include any illustrative content including tables and graphs, ii) you do not include any information that includes specifics about any patients,iii) you do not include any original data, unless it has already been published in a peer reviewed journal and you have included a reference, iv) your response is lawful, not defamatory, original and accurate, v) you declare any competing interests, vi) you understand that your name and other personal details set out in our rapid response terms and conditions will be published with any responses we publish and vii) you understand that once a response is published, we may continue to publish your response and/or edit or remove it in the future.
  • By submitting this rapid response you are agreeing to our terms and conditions for rapid responses and understand that your personal data will be processed in accordance with those terms and our privacy notice.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Vertical Tabs

Other responses

Jump to comment:

  • Published on:
    Response to Weydt et al
    • Martin Turner, Prof Oxford University
    • Other Contributors:
      • Kevin Talbot, MD

    We thank Dr Weydt and colleagues for their interest in our review. We are aware of the subjective benefit of cannabinoids reported by some living with multiple sclerosis, and a trial of THC:CDB spray is also approved by the UK’s National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE). The CANALS study mentioned, in which PLS patients were well represented (28% of treatment arm and 20% of placebo arm), was a Phase 2 study powered to consider safety and tolerability. Adverse events were reported in 76% of the treatment group versus 27% in the placebo group. A reduction in the clinician’s Modified Ashworth Spasticity scale score was noted, and in the patient’s numeric rating scale score for pain, but not their scores for spasm or spasticity. In the discussion, the authors note that muscle cramping was not alleviated in a prior randomised trial of THC in ALS (1). We agree with their call for further evaluation, through a Phase 3 study of the benefit of cannabinoids over the licensed therapies for spasticity outlined in our review.

    Reference:

    1. Weber M, Goldman B, Truniger S. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for cramps in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomised, double-blind crossover trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;81(10):1135-40. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2009.200642. PMID: 20498181.

    Conflict of Interest:
    None declared.
  • Published on:
    Cannabinoids for spasticity in primary lateral sclerosis (PLS)
    • Patrick Weydt, MD University Hospital Bonn
    • Other Contributors:
      • Sergio Castro-Gomez, MD
      • Michael Thomas Heneka, MD

    To the editor

    We greatly enjoyed the excellent recent review on the diagnosis and management of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). Turner and Talbot emphasize the importance of controlling spasticity as the most troublesome symptom, which is often associated with pain, discomfort and physical disability [1].
    As the authors point out, the current standard of care (baclofen, tizanidine, benzodiazepines and botulinum toxin) is frequently complicated by side effects, difficulties in titration and a lack of well controlled clinical studies [2]. We were thus surprised that the authors omitted the option of medicinal cannabis from the discussion of this very important topic.
    A study by Riva and colleagues offers clear evidence on the efficacy of the cannabinoid preparation Nabiximol for the control of spasticity in ALS and PLS patients [3], which is further supported by Meyer and colleagues providing compelling real world evidence of this effect [4].
    The THC:CBD oromucosal spray (nabioximols, brand name Sativex) became approved in European Union countries in 2010. Although only approved for people with moderate to severe spasticity in multiple sclerosis, who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity regimes, THC:CBD is increasingly being used off-label for spasticity in patients with motor neuron diseases. In addition, the patients themselves have self-medicated with recreational cannabis for many years [5].
    The multicenter, double-blind,...

    Show More
    Conflict of Interest:
    None declared.