Randomized sequential trial of valproic acid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Piepers S, Veldink JH, de Jong SW, van der Tweel I, van der Pol WL, Uijtendaal EV, Schelhaas HJ, Scheffer H, de Visser M, de Jong JM, Wokke JH, Groeneveld GJ, van den Berg LH

To determine whether valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor that showed antioxidative and antiapoptotic properties and reduced glutamate toxicity in preclinical studies, is safe and effective in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a sequential trial design.