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Assessment and management of fatigue in neuromuscular disease.

The American journal of hospice & palliative care
March 1, 2010
Jau-Shin Lou et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to explore whether Coenzyme Q10 could improve neuromuscular function and reduce fatigue in patients with neuromuscular disease.

Results Summary

The abstract suggests that Coenzyme Q10, among other nutraceutical agents, may improve neuromuscular function and reduce fatigue, but no specific results or statistical significance are provided.

Population

Patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) experiencing fatigue.

Effective Dosage

Not available

Duration

Not available

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
low-intensity exercise training
increase
physical and psychological functioning
patients with NMD
-
might include
#1
cognitive therapy
increase
physical and psychological functioning
patients with NMD
-
might include
#2
treatment of associated depression
increase
physical and psychological functioning
patients with NMD
-
might include
#3
correction of risk factors such as obesity, poor nutrition, and inactivity (deconditioning)
increase
physical and psychological functioning
patients with NMD
-
might include
#4
noninvasive, positive pressure ventilation
decrease
fatigue
patients with NMD
-
may reduce
#5
modafinil
decrease
fatigue
patients with NMD
-
may be a helpful pharmacological treatment
#6
creatine monohydrate
increase
neuromuscular function
-
-
may also improve
#7
creatine monohydrate
decrease
fatigue
-
-
may also reduce
#8
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
increase
neuromuscular function
-
-
may also improve
#9
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
decrease
fatigue
-
-
may also reduce
#10
alpha-lipoic acid
increase
neuromuscular function
-
-
may also improve
#11
alpha-lipoic acid
decrease
fatigue
-
-
may also reduce
#12
Abstract

Fatigue is a common and potentially debilitating symptom of neuromuscular disease (NMD). Studies show that patients with NMD subjectively report increased levels of fatigue. Laboratory testing has demonstrated that patients with NMD show objective physiological signs of increased fatigue, with both central and peripheral components. To date, no treatment has been proven to be truly effective through evidence-based medicine. Thus, the clinician must use a multimodality approach to treating fatigue in patients with NMD. Management interventions are generally based on a sequential approach including treatment of comorbid factors, with the goal of maximizing physical and psychological functioning. This might include low-intensity exercise training, cognitive therapy, treatment of associated depression, correction of risk factors such as obesity, poor nutrition, and inactivity (deconditioning). Optimizing cardiopulmonary function is also critical and measures such as noninvasive, positive pressure ventilation may reduce fatigue in patients with NMD. Novel medications such as modafinil, a nonamphetamine stimulant, may be a helpful pharmacological treatment. Nutraceutical agents, such as creatine monohydrate, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and alpha-lipoic acid, may also improve neuromuscular function and reduce fatigue.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Benzhydryl CompoundsCentral Nervous System StimulantsExerciseFatigueHumansModafinilMuscle, SkeletalNeuromuscular DiseasesQuality of LifeSurveys and Questionnaires
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy60/10
Quality50/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations34
Citations/Year2.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.22
NIH Percentile57.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.00
Normalized Score0.54
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