Does fampridine help with spinal cord trauma?

Has there been any success, or even attempt, at treating paralysis in cats using "Ampyra", aka fampridine or dalfampridine?

I understand this drug was recently approved for human MS patients, and also shows promise for damaged but not severed spinal cords, though that would be an off-label use at this time, if I've got my facts straight.

http://www.acorda.com/Products/Brand.aspx

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119135640.htm

Her vet has prescribed prednisone and some Chinese homeopathic remedy, and suggested acupuncture, but gave a poor prognosis for ever walking again. The injury was too small to show up on an x-ray.

Bottom line, should I ask our vet to consider prescribing this?


Thanks,
- Kevin

Dr. Marie,

Thank you very much for your time and effort.

We are in the position of enumerating the possible drastic actions. I wasn't holding out any hope at all for a magic shot that would fix her spine, but I was thinking a daily pill of this stuff might restore some control and sensation, especially of the bodily functions.

The point is, experimental approaches are worth considering if any data exists to support a reasonable chance of improvement.

As to the Ampyra then, I'm more concerned with the lack of data on felines than the seizure risk; the abstract said that happened at higher intravenous doses. Problem is, the first molecule might do that to a cat, seems like nobody knows, and that seems a little _too_ experimental.

As for the PEG, the question becomes, why are some but not most neurologists using it? Is there a negative side effect or some other unacceptable risk factor, or are they simply not convinced it's doing any good? In my view, the former is a showstopper, the latter merely a brake.

As to acupuncture; similar problem. Pricking needles into her is a questionable risk to me, since it seems about as likely to work as the ancient herbs - odds just this side of nil, but the herbs have much lower impact. Should I be more willing to try acupuncture? The vet said she'd done it twice with positive result on one and no improvement on the other.

As to surgery; we were told the procedure would have to have been performed immediately, and we were not able to get her to a vet fast enough. Honestly, on a moment's notice, we would not have been able to secure the $5000. That kind of money takes time for us.

For whatever it's worth, we're disinclined to consider euthanasia at this time, though it's only been a week since the injury. We (myself, my wife, and Bastet) are all still learning to deal with her handicap status. She seems eager enough to keep living thus far, mobility impairments and bathroom embarrassments notwithstanding. When someone can demonstrate that she's actually in serious misery, then and only then will we consider putting her out of it. Until then, Bastet's quality of life is for her to judge, and we'll support her as best we can.

That's really the ultimate question right there - are there any other options we should be looking at?

Thank you again for your time, and please know that your sympathy is very deeply appreciated.


- Kevin