View clinical trials related to Sclerosis.
Filter by:Randomized study designed to look at the difference in relapse rates between patients remaining on their current interferon medication and those switched to Copaxone®
Clinical and experimental evidences suggest that there is a variability in therapeutic response to immunomodulating therapies in Multiple Sclerosis patients. Microarrays is a technology that permits to monitor the expression levels of thousands of genes at a time. The specific aim of this study is to identify predictive factors of therapeutic response in MS patients treated with high-dose Interferon-Beta.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by amongst others asymmetric muscle weakness, respiratory insufficiency and spasticity. The disease is usually fatal within 2-3 years and until now there is no cure. ALS patients are usually supported by a multidisciplinary team. One of the members of this team is the physical therapist. The aim of physical therapy might be to enhance or to preserve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength. Some authors suggest, however, that a moderate to high intensive exercise programme might lead to overuse weakness (an undesired fast progression of muscle weakness). The primary objective of this study is therefore to investigate whether regular moderate to high intensity exercise program in ALS can maintain or optimize cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. A secondary objective is to investigate whether such a programme leads to overuse weakness and if there is a positive influence on patient's disability, fatigue and quality of life.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare clinical entity, in which both disorders are variably associated in the same patient or within the family. This adult-onset disorder, which is rapidly fatal, occurs in some families with autosomal dominant (AD) transmission and age-dependant penetrance. Two studies have provided evidence for linkage of this condition to chromosomes 15 (in a single family) and 9 (in five families). However, none of these loci have been yet confirmed. Through a national network of 10 centres with specialists for FTD and/or ALS, we have identified 35 probands with ALS-FTD, including 13 with a family history consistent with AD inheritance. Mutations in the SOD1 and tau genes, respectively responsible for autosomal dominant forms of ALS and FTD, will be excluded by direct sequencing. We will then extend the pedigree of the 13 autosomal dominant families to all consenting first, second and eventually third degree relatives, using well defined criteria for FTD and ALS. The same strategy will be applied to newly identified families during the course of the project (at least, seven families with AD inheritance expected). Linkage studies will be performed in the 20 families using markers from the two candidate regions on chromosomes 9 and 15. Then, refinement of the candidate region will be obtained by analyzing the linked families with a high density of microsatellite markers. This should lead to the refinement of the candidate regions, allowing to search for mutations in candidate genes. Genes located within the critical regions will be prioritized for their analysis by sequencing, according to their expression in the nervous system and to their function. Once the responsible gene(s) will be identified, it will then possible to define its spectrum of mutations and to establish genotype/phenotype correlations. Alternatively, if none of the candidate regions is confirmed, a genome wide search will be performed, allowing to identify one or more loci for ALS-FTD. The same strategy would then be applied to identify the corresponding gene(s). This project should contribute for identifying the molecular basis of this devastating disorder with practical consequences for genetic counselling in ALS-FTD families, and with the perspective of elucidating the pathophysiology of this disorder.
Emotionally labile, depressed participants with multiple sclerosis treated with escitalopram will have a greater reduction in emotional lability scores and in their psychological distress scores than those who are randomized to receive placebo.
The purpose of this study is to show the dose-response relationship of three doses of mitoxantrone with regard to efficacy in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and to show the safety and tolerability of mitoxantrone in these patients.
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of the drug sirolimus in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have failed other treatments.
Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis (SSc), is a diffuse connective tissue disease characterized by changes in the skin, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, and internal organs. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and value of self bone marrow transplants after chemotherapy in patients with severe SSc.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether BMS-188667 will decrease multiple sclerosis disease activity on MRI examinations, as well as decrease the rate of clinical MS exacerbations, compared to placebo