View clinical trials related to Multiple Sclerosis.
Filter by:- The Study analyses the influence of selected factors on adherence to Betaferon treatment in patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS). The Investigator will document the relevant medical data regarding multiple sclerosis at every hospital visit, the patient will fill in two questionnaires at every visit: one about coping with the disease and the other about anxiety and depression. - The Study particularly looks at the role of the support of the patient given by the multiple sclerosis nurses.The nurse will provide additional standardised information at start of treatment and will regularly phone the patient to ask standardised questions about the general condition with regard to the treatment, the disease and social support. At the end of the Study it will be assessed if the supportive measures and the standards in terms of adherence management in the hospital have some influence to increase long-term treatment adherence.
Several studies have shown that bone mineral density (BMD) at the femoral neck decreases with increasing physical handicap (EDSS-score) in MS patients. Possible explanations are less weightbearing exercise or less UV-exposure resulting in reduced vitamin D generation in the skin. Prevention of osteoporosis is a high priority, because treatment of the established disease remains sub-optimal. We have designed a double-blind randomised controlled trial of two years' duration including 90-100 persons with MS age 18-50 to assess whether supplementation with vitamin D, given as a weekly dose of 20,000 IU cholecalciferol, can prevent bone loss. The primary objective of this study is to determine changes in BMD over the 2 year study period comparing treatment and placebo groups. The most important secondary objective is to determine cytokine profiles in blood samples. We will also assess parameters related to vitamin D status and physical performance.
The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of Avonex® (interferon beta-1a) 30 mcg when administered subcutaneously (SC) to interferon-naïve participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis. The secondary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Avonex® 30 mcg when administered SC to interferon-naïve subjects with relapsing MS.
Although, effective immunotherapies for MS exist which downregulate the anti-myelin reactivity and reduce the rate of relapses of the disease, there is no effective means today to stop the progression of disability and induce remyelination. Neuronal stem cells were shown to possess the ability to restore neuronal activity and produce new neurons through transdifferentiation. Various other types of stem cells were tested in animal models with promising results, revealing a potential for restoration of the neurological function in neuroimmune and neurodegenerative conditions. Adult bone marrow derived stromal cells (MSC) were shown to induce similar (to neuronal stem cells) immunomodulatory and neuroregenerative effects and were shown in our laboratory to induce neuroprotection in the animal model of chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). MSCs offer practical advantages for clinical therapeutic applications, since they can be obtained from the adult bone marrow and therefore the patient can be the donor for himself, without any danger for rejection of the cells. In addition, MSCs carry a safer profile and are less prone to malignant transformation. Our initial clinical experience with 10 patients with ALS and 10 with multiple sclerosis show that intravenous and intrathecal administration of MSCs is feasible and safe. In this study we propose an explorative protocol with the injection of MSCs (both intrathecally and intravenously) in patients with MS, in an effort to prevent further neurodegeneration through neuroprotective mechanisms and induce neuroregeneration and restoration of neuronal function. The primary endpoint will be to further evaluate the safety and feasibility of the treatment with MSC infusions, in MS patients. Additionally, the migration ability of the transplanted cells will be evaluated by tagging MSCs with the superparamagnetic iron oxide particle (Feridex) for detection by MRI. Clinically the patients will be followed by monthly evaluations of the MS functional rating scale (EDSS) scale. The MRI, will be also used to evaluate changes in the total volume of lesions in the brain and the degree of atrophy. Significance: This project may provide information for possible therapeutic uses of this type of bone marrow adult stem cells in MS but may also serve as a pilot platform and pave the path for future applications of various types of stem cells in neurodegerative diseases, in general.
Studying the effectiveness of a functional rehabilitation protocol (FRP) in early Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with Betaferon by comparing the physical ability of patients with and without FRP.
This study is being conducted to compare healthy patients versus patients with muscle tightness in their leg(s) after an acquired brain injury using walking trials time, a balance test, and foot pressure data. This data is obtained using foot pressure sensors, timers, and distance walked.
The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of Nerispirdine (50 mg or 400 mg) and placebo given orally as a single dose once a week in crossover design on latency of Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) P100 in optic nerves. Secondary objectives included evaluation of the effect of Nerispirdine on VEP amplitude and other visual parameters including visual acuity and contrast, as well as evaluation of the safety and tolerability of Nerispirdine in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Contrast sensitivity and visual acuity examinations (in addition to Optical Coherence Tomography [OCT] and VEPs) were needed during the screening period for defining etiologic relationships (if non-MS related impairment) and for assessing the effect of treatment of age-related eye disease versus the MS-related vision impairment.
Phase IV, proof-of-concept, randomized, open-label, multi-center, two-arm, 9-month study to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Natalizumab (TYSABRI®) or Interferon beta-1a (AVONEX®) treatments initiated at the time of acute optic neuritis (AON) as measured by RNFL thickness from Optical Coherence Tomography in patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS).
Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease that affects more than 400,000 people in the US alone. MS is in fact the most common disabling neurological disorder in young adults. Symptoms of the disease can include problems with balance, walking, fatigue, weakness and vision. Over 85% of people with Multiple Sclerosis have problems walking. This can cause them to fall or have a constant fear of falling. To prevent falling, MS patients rely on equipment, such as walkers and canes. These costs can cause financial difficulties for MS patients and families. A significant problem that is only recently being studied is the relationship between falling and MS. Recent studies have shown that MS patients fall more often than those without MS, and also fall more than the elderly population. The consequent fear of falling is also an important problem, as those worried about falling will probably change their daily habits to lower their risk. This can mean keeping from certain physical and social activities or even staying indoors. Thus, falls and fear of falling can have negative medical, physical, psychological, and social consequences for the patient. Improving patients' walking may help reduce falls and the fear of falling. Treadmill training has been shown to improve walking in patients with MS and to lower their risk of falling. One way to train patients on a treadmill is with the use of robots that can help move their limbs in a more normal way. This kind of robot-assisted treadmill training may provide even greater benefits than treadmill training alone. The study is expected to last 6-7.5 months. One group of participants will receive weekly telephone calls and will be asked questions on other physical activities, falls, and activity limitations the patient had during the week. Participants assigned to robot-assisted treadmill training will receive twice weekly training session for 8 weeks, for a total of 16 sessions. Each session will last about 65 to 90 minutes. The goal of this study is to see if robot-assisted treadmill training will reduce falls and fear of falling in patients with MS. Robot-assisted treadmill training has been shown to be effective in reducing falls and fear of falling in Parkinson's disease patients. This type of training has not been tested in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The proposed study will help to address this gap and also provide additional data on other possible improvements due to robot-assisted treadmill training including ambulation, social participation, fatigue, and balance.
The presence of foot drop limits normal gait. Our prior data has suggested that approximately 30% of MS patients have foot drop. Although we have observed that "task-specific" rehabilitation using the Lokomat can improve ambulation in chronic MS patients, subjects with "foot drop" have difficulty translating task-specific training to normative gait patterns over ground, despite improving speed and endurance. One of the key limitations of the Lokomat is a lack of robot-assisted training for the ankle joint. The Anklebot, an MIT-developed rehabilitation robot for the ankle, has the potential to address this. The device can move throughout three planes and train ankle flexion, extension, inversion and eversion; however, therapy with the Anklebot alone does not train the knee or hip. We plan to test whether subject foot drop and overall gait benefit more from Anklebot therapy alone or a combination of Anklebot and Lokomat.