A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of thiamine hydrochloride in a seasonal ataxia in Nigerians

Abstract

We report the results of the first double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of thiamine hydrochloride in a seasonal ataxic syndrome of unknown etiology, endemic to the southwestern part of Nigeria. Thiamine produced a clinically impressive and statistically significant improvement in clinical severity grading in patients with the seasonal ataxia compared with placebo (MANOVA, df = 1, F = 35.087, p < 0.0001), with a significant time-treatment interaction (MANOVA, df = 3, F = 32.36, p < 0.0001). These results provide confirmation for the role of thiamine deficiency in the etiology of the seasonal ataxic syndrome and represent the first advance in the elucidation of the etiology of this syndrome.