• Taku Sugawara, Yoshitaka Hirano, Naoki Higashiyama, and Kazuo Mizoi.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan. taku@nsg.med.akitau.ac.jp
• Spine. 2009 Mar 15; 34 (6): 551-5.

Study DesignMyelopathy symptoms were prospectively studied in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis (CSCS), using objective grading systems and stabilometry, to examine the effect of administration of prostaglandin E1 derivative limaprost alfadex (limaprost).ObjectiveMyelopathy scores/grades and stabilometry parameters were evaluated before, and 1 and 3 months after starting the limaprost treatment.Summary And Background DataLimaprost is a potent vasodilator and antiplatelet agent and has been used to treat the symptoms of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. The action presumably involves increased blood flow in the compressed cauda equina. Limaprost can also increase blood flow in the compressed spinal cord, but effects on myelopathy symptoms in patients with CSCS have not been established.MethodsThis study examined 21 patients with mild spondylotic CSCS based on neurologic findings and compression of the cervical spinal cord on magnetic resonance imaging. Japanese Orthopedic Association score, grip and release test, and finger escape sign were measured, and stabilometry was performed by independent examiners, before, and 1 and 3 months after starting the oral limaprost treatment.ResultsMost patients experienced amelioration of the symptoms at 1 month after starting the treatment. Mean Japanese Orthopedic Association score and grip and release count were significantly improved and finger escape sign grade was higher in some patients. Stabilometry area with eyes closed and Romberg rate were also significantly improved. These improvements were maintained at 3 months.ConclusionThe efficacy of oral limaprost administration for patients with CSCS was confirmed by objective scoring and quantitative data.

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