A six-month phosphatidylcholine trial in Friedreich's ataxia.

In a six-month open pilot study, pure phosphatidylcholine was administered intravenously (2.5g daily for a month) and orally (5g daily for five months) to sixteen patients with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) and seven patients with other inherited ataxias. Only the oral treatment achieved a mild but significant, 25% improvement, mainly of "central" symptoms in the FA patients at stage 2 of the illness, that is, still able to walk without support and to lead an independent life. However, the drug was ineffective in the more advanced cases. These results are discussed and compared with those obtained with lecithin by other authors.