Active clinical trials for "Multiple Sclerosis"

The definition of the most 'at-risk' population within highly susceptible groups would provide an opportunity for preemptive therapeutics. A convenient, safe, and tolerable therapy that delays the onset of clinical disease during the pre-symptomatic stage of demyelinating disease would provide a therapeutic alternative to a 'wait and see' approach in subjects at 'high risk' for CIS (clinically isolated syndrome - monosymptomatic demyelinating disease) or MS. Identical twins share the same genes and have the highest rate of shared MS. An identical female with a sister twin with MS has a 34% chance of having MS. Non concordant (no MS yet) identical (monozygotic - from the same sperm-egg zygote) female twins provide an ideal population to find out what factors predict the onset of MS in the non-affected twin. We will recruit 30 identical female twins, one with MS and the other without MS, and obtain brain MRI and biological samples on the non-affected twin and determine if: the presence of characteristic MS-like lesion(s) on baseline MRI predisposes to MS. specific proteins in blood or cerebrospinal fluid predispose to the clinical expression of demyelinating disease If we can predict by simple tests (MR brain scan and blood tests) the likelihood of the onset of MS in 'at risk' subjects, and have safe and tolerable therapies, we may be able to prevent the clinical onset of demyelinating disease (MS).

This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine and compare changes in blood flow and blood volume in the brains of normal volunteers and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with MS-an inflammatory disease that attacks the brain and spine-may have new blood vessel formation (called angiogenesis) within the brain that may or may not contribute to the disease or help in repairing the brain. It is not known if these new vessels behave in the same way as the naturally occurring vessels. MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to generate brain images that provide information on brain chemistry, function, and blood flow. The results of this study may lead to a better understanding of MS. Healthy normal volunteers and patients with multiple sclerosis 18 years of age and older may be eligible for this study. Normal volunteers must have no history of signs or symptoms of central nervous system disease. Patients with MS will be recruited from the NIH Neuroimmunology MS clinic. All participants will undergo MRI. For this procedure, the subject lies still on a table that slides into a narrow metal cylinder (the MRI scanner). Scanning varies from 20 minutes to 3 hours, with most scans lasting between 45 and 90 minutes. During the scan, the subject wears earplugs to muffle loud knocking noises caused by electrical switching of the radio frequency circuits. The subject can communicate with the MRI staff at all times during the procedure. During the scan, the subject wears a mask and breathes in room air or air containing 6% carbon dioxide (CO2). (Room air contains approximately 0.04% CO2, which is about 150 times less than the 6% CO2. Air that is normally breathed out contains about 5% CO2.) Breathing 6% CO2 increases the amount of blood flow in the brain that can be measured using MRI. The total duration of a single 6 percent CO2 inhalation will not exceed 10 minutes. A catheter (thin plastic tube) is placed in a vein in the subject's arm before he or she enters the scanner. At some point during the scan, a contrast agent called gadolinium DTPA is injected into the vein through the catheter. This agent enables clearer images of the brain.

This study will assessed the level of consciousness of MS patients suffering of cognitive and motor disorders. Understanding the awareness of the disease is crucial to allow better management of these patients. It has been shown, for other neurological pathologies, that a lack of awareness of deficits leads to inefficient rehabilitation and a disorder of understanding the impact of deficits in daily activities. Metacognition could be altered with age, so we will include participants between 18 and 60 years old.

Research project in which patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are examined clinically and with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To evaluate spinal cord (SC) grey and white matter changes (incl. lesions) using fast, high-resolution MRI sequences with high contrast between SC and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as high contrast within the SC (grey-white matter contrast).

The aim of this study was the describe the Immunologic biomarker profile of cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis patients

The aim of this study is to translate, culturally adapt, and validate Polish versions of the NBSS, Qualiveen and SF-Qualiveen questionnaires.

The objective of this study is to validate a different version of the 6 minutes Walk Test (6minWT), the 6minWT on 6 meters, instead of the 30 meters. The secondary objectives are to verify the reliability of this new version and to analyze the possible differences between the 6minWT6 and the 6minWT30 (according to speed at half-turn, other parameters: age, gender, height, EDSS score, type of disease, time since relapse).

Objective: To report the prevalence and risk factors of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and the prevalence of intrinsic sphincter deficiency in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among Female patients with MS, followed for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) during a 15-year period. Demographic data, MS history, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score at the urodynamic visit, obstetrical past, birth weight, LUTS, and urodynamic findings were collected. SUI was defined as incontinence during cough, or any effort. A maximum urethral closure pressure less than 30 cm H2O defined intrinsic sphincter deficiency. Results: In total 363 women with a mean age of 46.7±10.8 years and a mean disease duration of 12.9±8.7 years were included. The incidence of relapsing remitting MS, a secondary progressive form, and a primary progressive form was 60.6%, 32.8%, and 6.6%, respectively. The prevalence of SUI was 31.4%. The prevalence of intrinsic sphincter deficiency was 1.4% and 0.8% of these patients had a SUI (P=0.300). In a multivariate analysis, women with a SUI had significantly higher birth weight (P=0.030), a pelvic organ prolapse (P=0.021), urgent urinary incontinence (P=0.006), a lower EDSS score (P=0.019), and a weaker containing effort (P<0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of SUI in women with MS was 31.4%. This symptom could affect the quality of life of women with MS.

The aim of this observational study is to compare Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and Teriflunomide on both clinical and MRI outcomes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) from French Observatory of Multiple Sclerosis (French MS cohort )

Background The results obtained in clinical research led to a new paradigm for the treatment of patients affected with multiple sclerosis (MS): "no evidence of disease activity". This means having each patient monitored with high quality imaging. To this purpose, researchers have developed segmentation algorithms for automated reading of MRIs, facilitating longitudinal comparisons, and allowing an accurate assessment of the number and the volume of focal lesions. We have thus a powerful strategic biomarker for the treatment of MS. Due to the relevance of comparing over time the evolution of lesions (lesion load) and brain atrophy, the French Society of Neuroradiology edited standardized national recommendations. The MS French Observatory (OFSEP) has adopted these recommendations, in order to harmonize exams for all patients all over the country. At an international level as well, MRI have been put at the heart of the therapeutic strategy. Therefore, we need now to create the conditions able to implement, collect and analyze imaging data according to these recommendations. This is the meaning of the MUSIC project, which aims to develop and assess a standardized monitoring MRI control tool for therapeutic decision. CADIMS is this tool. It is based on an integration of several segmentation algorithms developed by INRIA and an image viewer developed by b<>com and included in a regional images-sharing server ETIAM Nexus. This tool is a help showing segmented brain T2 lesions, gadolinium-enhanced T1 lesions and news T2 lesions appeared from the previous MRI exam, in a multicenter clinical context. Objective To evaluate the accuracy of MS lesions detection on cerebral MRI by comparing the CADIMS tool to the expert consensus.