ORCiD
Adam M. Kaye: 0000-0002-7224-3322
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Health Psychology Research
ISSN
2420-8124
Volume
10
Issue
2
DOI
10.52965/001c.36040
Publication Date
6-28-2022
Abstract
This is a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the use of Deutetrabenazine in treating chorea associated with Huntington’s disease. Unfortunately, treatment has been limited for many aspects of this neurodegenerative disease. The present investigation presents the background, evidence, and indications for the use Deutetrabenazine in the setting of Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s disease is characterized by a variety of motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms with chorea being one of the more notable ones. Chorea is a movement disorder present in multiple neurologic diseases that causes involuntary and irregular muscle movements theorized to be stemming from high dopamine levels. Deutetrabenazine is thought to function as an inhibitor of the VMAT2 vesicular monoamine transporter resulting in decreased monoamine release, including dopamine, in the synaptic cleft which has a therapeutic effect in management of chorea. This drug was approved by the FDA in 2017 with a specific indication for tardive dyskinesia and choreiform movement in Huntington’s disease. Currently, there is no definitive treatment for Huntington’s disease. Thus, management is primarily focused on symptom management with the use of a variety of pharmaceutical agents. Chorea is one of the many manifestations that significantly alter the quality of life of many patients. Deutetrabenazine is a promising new option for the treatment of chorea in the setting of Huntington’s disease. Although studies so far have displayed mixed results, further research, including head-to-head studies, is necessary to elucidate the true potential of this drug.
Recommended Citation
Gupta, H.,
Perkins, W.,
Stark, C.,
Kikkeri, S.,
Kakazu, J.,
Kaye, A. M.,
&
Kaye, A. D.
(2022).
Deutetrabenazine for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.
Health Psychology Research, 10(2),
DOI: 10.52965/001c.36040
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/phs-facarticles/614
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
