A Summary of the Current Position of TRH in ALS Therapy

The critical points that must be addressed in evaluating ergotropic drugs are exemplified by the current morass of positive and negative results that have been obtained in clinical investigations of TRH or its analogues. Appropriate subject selection is crucial. These patients may have bulbar symptoms, and those features of ALS should be specifically assayed for treatment effects relative to placebo. Gender-specific effects of TRH need to be accounted for in study design. In addition, electrophysiological techniques such as single fiber density may help determine the responsiveness of patients to TRH or its analogues. The clinical significance of an increase in fiber density following TRH or other drugs should be determined, as it will provide insight into the state of motor neurons in the spinal cord of patients with ALS and possibly could be important in determining those who may respond to TRH if such a response is possible. Clinical studies have quite clearly shown conflicting results. Basic studies, however, have shown that response to TRH is state dependent, that is, whether the patient is male or female. Clinical studies have shown that response to TRH is state dependent, that is, it depends on whether the patient has bulbar or nonbulbar signs and is male or female. Future studies must take into consideration this state dependence as a specific feature of the pharmacological action of TRH and its analogues.