Active clinical trials for "Multiple Sclerosis"

This study is expected to contribute to the body of knowledge on the benefits of individuals with MS taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®). If patients have less spasticity when taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®), they may be more likely to have an improved quality of life. The hypotheses for this study are: Study participants who transition from interferon therapy to glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®) for a six month period will have a decrease in spasticity. Study participants who transition from interferon therapy to glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®) for a six month period will have a change in perceptions of the impact of spasticity on their lives.

To determine wether multimodal MRI (conventinal T1 and T2 sequences, diffusion, magnetization transfer, spectroscopy) is reproducible; to follow up a cohort of patients with early remmittent MS after treatment with interferon.

Fatigue is a frequent and disabling symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The pathophysiology of this sign is not fully understood. Some data suggest that the fatigue is associated with sleep disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the polysomnographic parameters in MS patients with fatigue in comparison to MS patients without fatigue.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) MS is a chronic disease containing the inflammatory, demyelinating, anddegenerative processes of the central nervous system. The inflammation, microglial activation, astrocyticgliosis, demyelination, and somewhat axonal loss inwhite matter and grey matter was present in the brainsof the patients with MS . Moreover, MS patientspresented a reduction in the cerebral blood flow (CBF)affecting both grey and white matter in positronemission tomography (PET) studies. MS is the most common autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. As of 2010, the number of people with MS was 2-2.5 million (approximately 30 per 100,000) globally, with rates varying widely in different regions. MS affects approximately 1000000 people between 17 and 65 years old world wide, the projected prevalence rate of MS for the white US population was 191 per 1000000 and the incidence rate was 7.3 per 1000000 persons . the contribution of neurodegenerative processes in the disease pathogenesis has been increasingly recognized, especially with respect to possible mechanisms of progression. These may include axonal degeneration, mitochondrial injury, energy failure, hypoxia, oxidative damage, iron accumulation or global cerebral hypoperfusion . Interestingly, Cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVMR) in MS may be impaired as well. Although the cause of CVMR impairment in MS is not clear, several potential factors mightcontribute to this phenomenon. For the purpose of clarity,we divide them into (1) vascular factors, (2) glial factors, and (3)neuronal factors: Vascular factor Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption might be anotherfactor contributing to CVMR impairment in neurodegenerative disorders. CVMR impairment could also be caused by an increase inthe concentration of vasoconstrictive agents. For instance,endothelin-1 (ET-1) - a potent vasoconstrictor, is overexpressed in the cerebral vessels of MS and elevated in both serumand cerebrospinal fluid of patients with MS. Glial factors Reactive astrocytes, i.e. hypertrophied astrocytes that overexpress GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) have been described in virtually all CNS disorders including MS . they could also contribute to CVMR impairment through the production of ET-1 and possibly other vasoconstrictors Another way in which glial cells could contribute to the impairment of CVMR might be associated with their involvement in oxidative stress pathways. Glial pathology may also cause BBB dysfunction. Neuronal factors It has been shown that cholinergic projections originating from the nucleus basalis induce cerebral vasodilation directly through the release of acetylcholine and indirectly through the stimulation of NO-releasing interneurons . there is evidence of a cholinergic deficit in MS. From a clinical point of view, reduced white and gray matter CBF in patients with MS has thus far been associated with cognitive manifestations. Cognitive impairment occurs in 40 to 65% of patients with MS and can have a considerable impact on occupational and social life. also reduced deep gray matter perfusion in MS negatively correlated with fatigue. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is an inherent indicator of the dilatory capacity of cerebral arterioles for a vasomotor stimulus for maintaining a spontaneous and instant increase of CBF) in response to neural activation. The integrity of this mechanism is essential to preserving healthy neurovascular coupling. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is defined as a non-invasive ultrasound procedure to evaluate the changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) . The high temporal resolution and non-invasive nature of TCD make it a useful tool in the assessment of integrative cerebrovascular function in terms of cerebral reactivity, autoregulation and neurovascular coupling (NVC).

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and highly disabling disorder with considerable social impact and economic consequences. It is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. Different areas are affected, including upper airway function, trunk motor control and cardiorespiratory performance. The aim of this study was to determinate the relevance of trunk motor control in upper airway function and cardiorespiratory performance in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The primary objective of this study is to characterize the antibody response to seasonal influenza vaccine, in patients with active RRMS, treated with cladribine, compared to control individuals with basic immunomodulatory treatment. Serum antibody titers against the respective pathogen will be assessed prior to and 6 to 8 months following vaccination.

This work aims to: Investigate and correlate Sexual Dysfunction in relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis patients with specific focus on Specific neurologic deficit. Depressive symptoms. Comorbid factors. Fatigue symptoms. To investigate the impact of Sexual dysfunction on Sexual Quality of Life (SQoL). To search for possible gender difference.

Cognitive impairment is seen in about half of patients with relapsing remitting MS. Our knowledge about long term development of cognitive performance under natalizumab therapy is limited. We want to demonstrate with this study that patients treated with ntz improve in neurocognitive tests over the long term.

A majority of patients with multiple sclerosis initially presents with a single demyelinating event, e.g. in the optic nerves, brain, brainstem or spinal cord, referred to as a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Not all patients with CIS get a relapse and develop multiple sclerosis but in those patients who do, irreversible damage of the central nervous system, e.g. axonal damage, is already detectable in that early stage of disease. Early initiation of immunomodulatory therapy is crucial for patients with clinically isolated syndrome who are at high risk for the development of multiple sclerosis. Vice versa identification of low risk patients could help to avoid an unnecessary therapy. In this prospective observational study we want to follow up patients with CIS and early multiple sclerosis over a period of four years and obtain clinical, laboratory and MRI - data in order to identify risk factors for relapses, prognostic factors and therapy response markers.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging measurements the change in the total volume of brain parenchyma as well as its gray and white matter, T2 and enhanced T1 lesion volume, and the magnetization transfer ratio histogram parameters, and correlate these measurements with clinical measures of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis. II. Measure the quantity of whole brain N-acetylaspartate in patients with multiple sclerosis and compare these values to those from age matched controls. III. Determine the correlation between specific neuropsychological tests which assess global cognitive functioning and the quantitative measurements taken in these patients in this study.