Active clinical trials for "Pseudotumor Cerebri"

In the brain and its borders, blood vessels coexist with lymphatic vessels exclusively in the dura mater, the outermost layer of meninges. Dural lymphatics are present in various vertebrate species, including humans, and a cluster of experimental studies in the mouse strongly suggest their relevance in the pathophysiology of chronic and acute neurological disorders in humans. Demonstrating this assumption is however still at stake and the lymphatic regulatory mechanisms involved remain poorly characterized. Our main objective is to assess dural lymphatics contribution to the pathophysiology of a rare neurological disorder: idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). In IIH patients, intracranial hypertension causes severe headache and visual loss and is associated with a stenosis of dural sinuses and abnormal retention of fluids in the central nervous system. Angioplasty treatment by stent placement into venous sinuses is frequently followed by recurrent stenosis suggesting that, in addition to the blood vessels, the duro-lymphatic environment contributes to disease progression. Several studies have found hot spots of lymphatic uptake at confluence points between cerebral veins and dural sinuses. Based on this premise, the investigators predict a causal link between lymphatic and venous behavior around dural sinuses and the remodeling of dural lymphatics in neurovascular conditions such as IIH. Our approach will combine radiological observations from human patients with experimental analyses in mouse models. The investigators have recently developed a technique of high resolution vessel wall imaging to explore and compare the lymphatic networks between individuals. This advanced MR-imaging technique has been validated through a translational study comparing the lymphatic networks in mice and humans (Jacob et al. 2022, JExpMed). Using this tool, the investigators aim to monitor dural lymphatic and sinus wall abnormalities in patients with IIH. In this view, cohorts of IIH patients and controls without neurological disorders (n = 20/cohort) will be scanned by MRI to perform high resolution vessel wall imaging of the dural lymphatics, sinus and cerebral veins.

The purpose of the study is to determine if the ShuntCheck test can correctly identify flow or no flow in a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in patients with pseudotumor cerebri.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition of unknown etiology, primarily affecting overweight females of childbearing age. Typically, patients experience headache and visual symptoms due to increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and papilledema. The diagnosis is difficult, and outcomes vary from no sequelae to blindness or chronic headaches. No clear prognostic indicators exist. Treatment consists of medication, weight loss, and possibly surgical intervention.There is an unmet need of defining biomarkers with prognostic or diagnostic value and defining predictors of a poor outcome. This project is a prospective, population-based cohort study including clinical data and a biobank (blood samples and cerebrospinal fluid). The investigator's primary aim is to identify biomarkers of diagnostic or prognostic value and to create a clinical IIH database. The clinical database will answer questions about patient characteristics at baseline and during follow-up, identify predictors of outcome, and help create a standardized programme for follow-up and

Post-Market Clinical Follow-up Registry of Patients with CODMAN CERTAS Plus Programmable Valves.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterized by an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP), papilledema with a risk of permanent visual loss, and severe headaches that profoundly affect quality of life. To date the exact pathophysiology of IIH remains unknown. IIH is considered a complex neurometabolic and neuroendocrine disorder, favored by female gender, and obesity. In the majority of patients (80% of the cases) IIH is associated with obstruction of cerebral venous drainage with stenosis of the transverse sinus. This stenosis may be the main underlying cause in the so-called "venogenic" form of IIH. Equally, in the absence of a stenosis, obstruction may occur when otherwise normal venous sinuses are compressed by the increased ICP, the so-called "non-venogenic" form of IIH. An innovative treatment of IIH with associated venous stenosis includes stenting of the transverse sinus stenosis. This strategy may allow resolution of papilledema and ICP reduction rates up to 80%. Although the pathogenesis of IIH is still poorly understood, inflammatory mechanisms, autoimmune reactions, and hormonal abnormalities of notably androgens, have been proposed to contribute to its pathophysiology. The function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been studied by determining the prevalence of extravasation of endogenous proteins such as fibrinogen. A growing body of the literature shows a correlation between increased ICP and metabolic/hormonal changes. The improvement of IIH treated with acetazolamide and/or stenting appears to correlate with the reduction of ICP. Yet the association of this reduction with metabolic changes at the peripheral and central blood level as well as the CSF remains unclear. The search for specific inflammatory, immunological and hormonal biomarkers in patients with IIH and their variation in relation to the ICP should provide a better understanding of its etiology.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has significant associated morbidity and reduced quality of life. There is a significant risk of visual loss and patients also typically suffer with chronic disabling headaches. This trial has been designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new formulation of exenatide (Presendin) in the reduction of intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with IIH.

The investigators have documented a genetic predisposition for some astronauts to develop ophthalmologic issues (e.g., choroidal folds, cotton wool spots, optic disc edema). Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have several characteristics similar to those described in astronauts, including: higher homocysteine concentrations, increased incidence of intracranial hypertension, increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, increased incidence of white matter hyperintensities on MRI, increased androgen concentrations (or androgen responses to space flight), and indices of altered carbohydrate metabolism. Women with PCOS have not been evaluated in detail regarding the occurrence of other anomalies observed in astronauts including choroidal folds, optic disc edema and cotton wool spots as well as changes in cycloplegic refraction, and optic nerve sheath diameter. While researchers have evaluated one-carbon metabolism pathway polymorphisms re: PCOS, and initial studies show an association with certain one-carbon polymorphisms, none have looked at the complete set of SNPs proposed here. This study will evaluate women with PCOS and/or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) to assess one-carbon biochemistry and genetics and their possible correlation with ophthalmologic findings. The investigators aim to clarify the relationship of one carbon metabolism and ophthalmic findings in astronauts and patients with PCOS and/or IIH.

Randomized trial of adults (≥18 years old) with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and moderate to severe visual loss without substantial recent treatment who are randomly assigned to (1) medical therapy, (2) medical therapy plus ONSF, or (3) medical therapy plus VPS. The primary outcome is visual field mean deviation change at first of Month 6 (26 weeks) or time of treatment failure of the eligible eye(s), followed by a continuation study to assess time to treatment failure. The determination of eligible eye(s) is based on meeting the eligibility criteria at baseline.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also called pseudotumor cerebri, is a disorder of elevated intracranial pressure of unknown cause [Corbett, et al., 1982; Wall, et al., 1991]. Its incidence is 22.5 new cases each year per 100,000 overweight women of childbearing age, and is rising [Garrett, et al., 2004] in parallel with the obesity epidemic. It affects about 100,000 Americans. Most patients suffer debilitating headaches. Because of pressure on the optic nerve (papilledema), 86% have some degree of permanent visual loss and 10% develop severe visual loss [Wall, et al., 1991]. Interventions to prevent loss of sight, all with unproven efficacy, include diet, diuretics such as acetazolamide, repeated spinal taps, optic nerve sheath fenestration surgery, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting procedures. The purported goal of these therapies is to lower intracranial pressure; however, it is unclear which treatments work and by what mechanism. None of these strategies has been verified by properly designed clinical trials. Thus, there is confusion, uncertainty, and weak scientific rationales to guide treatment decisions. This trial will study subjects who have mild visual loss from IIH to (1) establish convincing, evidence-based treatment strategies for IIH to restore and protect vision, (2) follow subjects up to 4 years to observe the long-term treatment outcomes and (3) determine the cause of IIH. To meet those aims, the trial will be divided into a 12-month intervention phase and a 3-year observational phase. Subjects are not required to complete the observational phase of the study, but will be asked to do so and consented for the observational phase of the study at the conclusion of the intervention phase (12 months).

Assessing the safety and effectiveness of a 11-βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitor (AZD4017), in a placebo controlled trial, in acute idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) IIH is a condition of young, overweight women with characteristic raised intracranial pressure (pressure around the brain) leading to papilloedema (swelling of the nerve supplying the eye), visual loss and headaches. Medical literature (Cochrane review) demonstrates there is little evidence for the treatments used for IIH. Weight control appears the most effective method of improving symptoms but weight loss is difficult to maintain. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) is an enzyme which regulates local steroid levels and our previous research suggests it may influence the production of brain fluid(cerebrospinal fluid or CSF). 11β-HSD1 levels fall with weight loss and this is associated with with decreased intracranial pressure. Our primary outcome is to determine whether AZD4017, an inhibitor of 11β-HSD1, will reduce the pressure in the brain and as a consequence improve IIH. Patients are eligible to enter the study if they are between 18-55 years old with acute (<6 months) IIH, signs of active disease (papilloedema and raised CSF pressure (>25 cmH20)), no other major illnesses and have no plans for pregnancy during the study period. This is an MRC funded single centre, phase II, double-blinded, randomised control drug trial. It will be conducted at the University Hospital Birmingham and the University of Birmingham will act as Sponsor. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to AZD4017 or a placebo ('dummy' with no active drug) for 3 months with a follow up a month later. Investigations during the study will include bloods, urine samples, pregnancy tests, lumbar punctures, DXA scans and small fat/skin biopsies. Participants will benefit from increased monitoring and a potential improvement in their condition. We hypothesise that specific inhibition of 11β-HSD1 will decrease intracranial pressure and consequently treat patients with IIH, thus opening a new and entirely novel therapeutic avenue.