View clinical trials related to Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3.
Filter by:Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD) or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common spinocerebellar ataxia worldwide.Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a form of brain stimulation therapy used to treat depression and cerebellar ataxias. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the investigators will evaluate whether a 15 day treatment with 1 Hz of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve symptoms (motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms) in patients with MJD.
The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and blood of patients with spinocerebellar ataxias and healthy volunteers. The goal of this project is to identify new biomarkers that are useful for characterizing spinocerebellar ataxias and identify targets for treatment or prevention of this condition.
Design: Phase II-III, double-blind, parallel, placebo controlled randomized Clinical trial Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA-3) is an autosomal dominant adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no current treatment. Patients will invariably become dependent from others and unable to walk during the disease course. Hypothesis: Lithium Carbonate is safe and effective in treating neurological symptoms and improving quality of life of patients with SCA3. Outcomes: Primary - Phase 2 - To assess safety and tolerability of Lithium Carbonate in patients with SCA3 after 6 months of follow-up - Phase 3 (if Phase II study shows safety of therapy) - To assess efficacy of Lithium Carbonate in patients with SCA3 through the Neurological Examination Score for SCA 3 (NESSCA) after 12 months of follow-up . Secondary 1. - To assess efficacy on neurological function, ataxic, depressive and quality of life scores of Lithium Carbonate in patients with SCA3 through the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), 9-Hole Peg Board test, 8m walking time, PATA repetition rate, Click Test, SCA Functional Index (SCAFI), Composite Cerebellar Functional Score (CCFS), Beck Depression Inventory, Barthel Index and WHOQol after 6 and 12 months of follow-up. 2. - To assess the effect of Lithium Carbonate in peripheral levels and expression of treatment biomarkers (BDNF, NSE, HDAC, GSK-3Beta) Study Duration: 12 months - Final analysis of phase 2 (safety study) at 6 months with continuous monitoring until the end of phase 3 (efficacy study). - Preliminary analysis of efficacy on ataxia scales at 6 months of study and final analysis of phase 3 at 12 months. Obs: A futility analysis will be performed after 12 months of therapy if no statistically significant difference between groups were found. This analysis will define if the study will continue until 18 or 24 months of follow-up or will be ended at 12 months. Location: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre Subjects: 60 molecularly diagnosed SCA3 patients from the outpatient unit of the Medical Genetics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre Intervention: Lithium Carbonate tablets of 300mg. Starting dose will be 300mg/day with drug titration during 49 days or until achieving the defined target lithium serum level of 0.5 to 0.8 mEq/L
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a group of inherited disorders characterized by cerebellar degeneration leading to imbalance, incoordination, speech difficulties and problems with walking. Recently, individual case reports have suggested that varenicline, a drug used in smoking cessation, produces substantial improvement in patients with several inherited ataxias. A modest response was noted in 5 patients with SCA, suggesting that it is potentially efficacious in this disorder as well. Although this agent is available for off-label use, the severe side effects noted with its use and the lack of long-term toxicity data demand that it be systematically assessed. The present study will test whether varenicline is safe and potentially efficacious in a heterogeneous cohort of adults with SCA.