View clinical trials related to Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Filter by:This objectives of this study are to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of nusinersen (ISIS 396443) administered intrathecally to participants with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
The purpose of the study is to compare the immune response of two different injection methods (Intramuscular V.S. Subcutaneous) of the 2011-2012 seasonal Influenza (Flu) vaccine among patients with neuromuscular conditions who have significant muscle degeneration. This research study hypothesizes that the subcutaneous route of vaccine administration, as compared to the intramuscular route, may confer at least comparable, or possibly better, immunogenicity. At least 30 individuals followed by the CCHMC Neuromuscular Comprehensive Care Center will be recruited to participate in this study lasting approximately one to two months with two clinic visits and one follow-up telephone call. Immunogenicity will be assessed by comparing hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers obtained pre- and post-vaccination.
This study is being conducted to test whether exercise can be effectively used as an intervention to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). In order to answer this question, the investigators will enroll 14 subjects with SMA between ages 8 and 50 and ask them to complete an 18 month training schedule. At some points subjects will be asked to closely follow a specific training regimen and at other points they may be asked to exercise in the same manner they do normally. The exercises they will be asked to perform include biking on a stationary cycle and lifting hand weights. Subjects will be asked to come in to the clinic seven times over the course of the study to perform tests. These tests include motor function measures, a physical exam, questionnaires, a exercise capacity test which involves riding a stationary bicycle, and test where the subject is asked to walk as far as they can in six minutes. The main goal of the study is to see if the subjects who participate in the exercise protocol have larger increases in the distance they can walk in six minutes than those who do not.
Background: - Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a degenerative and incurable neuromuscular disorder that is caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron gene, SMN1, found on chromosome 5. It is the leading inherited cause of infant mortality. SMA carriers (those who have the genetic mutation but do not have the disease) are often unaware of their status until they are tested. - Researchers have been studying the prevalence of SMA carriers in the general population, but most of the information collected has come from populations within the United States, Europe, and Asia. Very few studies have been performed in Africa. Furthermore, this information does not provide much information regarding carrier frequency based on ethnic background and ancestry. To address this problem, researchers are interested in studying the prevalence of the SMA genetic mutation in the sub-Saharan nation of Mali. Objectives: - To collect blood samples for use in studying genetic data related to spinal muscular atrophy. Eligibility: - Healthy volunteers who are at least 18 years of age. - Volunteers will be of Malian ancestry and nationality. Study Location: -<TAB>Bamako, Mali, West Africa Design: - The study will first collect blood samples from a small group of volunteers to run initial SMA carrier testing and resolve any technical difficulties before continuing with the study. - Participants will complete questionnaires about their personal and family medical history, including questions about illnesses, stillborns, and miscarriages, and then will provide blood samples for genetic research and testing.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the treatment with valproic acid can increase the muscle strength and motor ability of children with spinal muscular atrophy.
The purpose this study is to determine the effects of power mobility on the development and function of young children of young children whose severe physical disabilities limit their exploratory behaviors and may unnecessarily restrict their cognitive, communication, and social-emotional development.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is neurodegenerative disease of anterior horn cells of spinal cord and represents the second more frequent pathology in childhood. According to the age of onset and the maximum motor function the disorder is classified in 4 types. Patients with SMA II and SMA III often use orthoses to achieve postural and dynamic functions. In this retrospective observational study the investigators describe the characteristics of sitting position, standing and walking correlated to type and time of orthoses used.
The goal of this pilot study is to identify a marker or panel of markers in the blood or urine from a wide range of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients that segregates with measures of clinical severity. From this identification of candidate biomarkers, it is hoped that further investigations, both longitudinal natural history and clinical efficacy studies, will verify a biomarker with the sensitivity and specificity that will allow its eventual use as a validated pharmacodynamic marker or surrogate endpoint. In addition, this effort may elucidate biological pathways that may be potential therapeutic targets.
In this single-center trial, we will evaluate the effects of NaPB on presymptomatic Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type I (cohort 1)and presymptomatic SMA type II (cohort 2) infants. A variety of outcome measures will be performed at each study visit to follow the course of the disease. Total duration of the study for type I infants will be 18 months, for type II infants, 24 months.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder in humans which results in the loss of motor neurons. It is caused by reduced levels of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein as a result of loss or mutation of the SMN1 gene. SMN protein is encoded by two genes, SMN1 and SMN2, which essentially differ by an single nucleotide in exon 7. As a result, the majority of the transcript from SMN2 lacks exon 7. According to clinical severity, SMA was classified to three types, including type I, type II, and type III. Drugs capable of modifying the transcription pattern of SMN2 to increase the full-length of SMN mRNA expression and the amount of SMN protein may have therapeutic effects for SMA patients. In order to test this hypothesis, we used EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the different types of SMA patients to screen the effect of various drugs on SMN2 gene expression. Hydroxyurea (HU) was found to be effective among the drugs we tested. HU is an effective therapeutic agent for patients with thalassemia and sickle cell disease which the toxicity is minimal and is well-tolerated and safely used in children. We had undergone a small-scaled 33 SMA patients randomized pilot trial (HU treatment for 8 weeks and then follow up drug-free 8 weeks) to evaluate the effect of HU in SMA patients and we got a promising preliminary data. We found that HU could significantly increase in the manual muscle testing scores at 4 weeks, and full-length SMN mRNA level in the 30mg/kg/day subgroup at 8 weeks relative to baseline, and it is safe under the dose 30mg/kg/day. In this study, we plan to enroll 60 type II and III SMA patients and conduct a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective trial of two-year duration to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HU.The primary end points are the changes in full-length SMN expression, SMN protein, motor function and lung function in SMA patients. We also design a safety monitoring system to investigate the adverse effects and to assure the patients' safety. We hope we can find and prove the efficacy and safety of HU in SMA patients and set up a evaluating model for multi-center trials in the future.