Active clinical trials for "Multiple Sclerosis"

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive and demyelinating disease that affects more than 2.5 million people in the world and is frequently seen in young adults between 20 and 40 years of age, especially in women. Although the exact MS in Turkey is not known, it is estimated as 40/100,000. According to epidemiological studies in recent years, the prevalence and incidence of MS tend to increase. The most common clinical signs and symptoms include loss of sensation in the extremities, partial or total vision loss, acute or subacute motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, double vision and gait dysfunction. Currently, MS has no definitive cure. Progressive symptoms related to the disease need to be managed in order to increase and maintain the quality of life of individuals with MS. Pharmacological, physiotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic methods are the most effective effective methods in the management of symptoms. However, the efficacy of these methods has been demonstrated in clinical trials. The outcomes cannot be generalized to the entire MS population because of the inclusion and exclusion criteria that exist in clinical trials. In addition, clinical trials are conducted at a specified time interval (usually a short time interval is selected) and generally, short-term results are provided. In order to better understanding the course of MS, it is of utmost importance that long-term follow-up studies are carried out where as many patients are included and patients are followed from the date of initial diagnosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the change of physical, psychosocial and cognitive characteristics over time and the correlated variables. The volunteers from MS patients who attend routine control of the MS outpatient clinic of Dokuz Eylül University Hospital will participate in the study. Physical and clinical assessments will be performed by physicians and physiotherapists, and cognitive evaluations will be performed by psychologists with 6-month intervals.

Background: In comparison to general population, persons with Multiple Sclerosis have a higher risk to premature death with an estimate reduced life expectancy from 7 to 14 years. However, risk factors of mortality in MS are not well identified and well known. Following the example of studies carry on cancers survival, socioeconomic status (SES) may have an influence on survival in MS. Objective: The main objective of ECOVIMUS is to estimate net survival according to SES using the European Deprivation Index as a proxy and other major covariates (gender, initial clinical phase and years of disease onset). Methods: In order to answer to our main objective, we will use a retrospective cohort of MS patients with a medical follow-up in one of the 18 centers included in SURVIMUS II, with a MS onset between 1960 and 2015 and with an informed vital at the date of December 31st, 2015. The ecological score of deprivation EDI will be used as a proxy of the socioeconomic status and will be attributed from the geolocalisation to patient's residence address. Net survival is directly associated to the notion of "mortality in excess". This mortality will be estimated comparing the observed mortality in MS patients to mortality in the general population. The advantage of this methodological approach is that cause of death is not needed. Statistical analysis: The influence of socioeconomic status on the excess of mortality will be estimated thanks to a parametric multivariate model of excess rate mortality. This model will be adjusted on other major covariates (gender, age at disease onset, and initial clinical phase) and will include potential complex effects as non-linearity, non-proportionality and interactions. Expected results: We expect to highlight some differences of net survival in MS patients according to socioeconomic group as it was already shown in cancers. This study will complete information on factors of mortality excess in MS and knowledge on socioeconomic inequalities encountered all along MS disease course.

Although the majority of the French population is covered by social security, the effects of social inequalities on health are still very visible and are even increasing in France and in Europe. Thus, according to INSEE, excess mortality is observed among the most disadvantaged populations. Similarly, the prevalence of certain chronic diseases in France and Europe, particularly cardiovascular diseases, is linked to social inequalities and excess morbidity can be observed in the most disadvantaged populations. In addition to social inequalities, which refer to disparities in health levels according to social category, there are the effects of territorial inequalities. In France, there are geographical areas of excess mortality, which essentially correspond to areas far from urban centers. Similarly, there are major geographical differences in terms of medical supply and equipment, and the distance between patients and health centers is a direct obstacle to the use of the health care network. The underlying explanations for social inequalities in health are multiple. While it is likely that difficulties in accessing and using care play a role, it is also possible that they are due to differences in exposure to certain environmental (e.g. pollution) or individual (e.g. smoking) risk factors. But it is also possible that the causal relationship is the opposite and that diseases create or reveal social inequalities. For multiple sclerosis (MS) the impact of social and territorial inequalities is more debated. Indeed, with regard to the relationship between disease prevalence and social inequalities, a recent literature review found 21 separate studies on the subject, of which 13 failed to show a link between socioeconomic status and MS risk, 5 concluded that there was an increased risk of MS in advantaged populations and 3 concluded that there was an increased risk of MS in disadvantaged populations. There are plausible pathophysiological explanations for either direction of the relationship, but the question remains open. To our knowledge, the link between MS prognosis and social inequalities has been little studied, as disadvantaged populations are more often exposed to the poor prognostic factor of smoking [6-8], the hypothesis of a negative prognostic role of social inequalities remains plausible. Similarly, the current consensus is that the diagnosis and treatment of MS should be as early as possible [9,10] in order to preserve brain capital. Easy access to a neurologist and MRI are therefore potentially prognostic factors for MS in relation to territorial inequalities. It should be noted that the link between social and geographical inequalities and a potential delay in treatment has not been demonstrated in France in the case of cancer, but it is possible that the importance of the means implemented in the fight against cancer erases these effects. In MS, a study showed a link between delay in starting a second disease-modifying therapy and socio-economic status. While the causal link between MS and socio-professional status has not yet been demonstrated, the socio-economic impact of MS has been measured. In particular, it has been shown that having MS is associated with an increased risk of unemployment and/or early retirement. The primary objective of our study is to determine whether delay in treatment, as a marker of difficulties in access to care in MS, is associated with social and territorial inequalities in MS. Secondary objectives will be to explore the link between MS prognosis and social and territorial inequalities. Exposure to sunlight is a known protective factor and is consistent with the north-east-south-west gradient observed in France. The choice of centers associated with the research, spread over the French territory, will make it possible to monitor and measure this effect in the prognosis of MS. As the available treatments have evolved considerably over the last ten years, and in order to avoid a period effect, the patients recruited in the study will have to have a date of onset of the disease after 1 January 2009. Primary objective Determining the relationship between socio-economic inequalities and the time to start disease-modifying therapy in MS Secondary objective To determine the relationship between geographical inequalities and delay in starting disease-modifying therapy in MS To determine the relationship between socio-economic inequalities and time to walking disability (EDSS 4) To determine the relationship between geographical inequalities and time to walking disability (EDSS 4) To measure the impact of disability on socioeconomic status in MS patients

The study explores the application of marker-less motion analysis (visual-perceptive computing, VPC) using a consumer grade infrared and video camera (Microsoft Kinect) for clinical assessment in MS. It includes as the primary outcomes a short assessment battery of simple motor tasks (PASS-MS) that can be performed in front of the sensor after standard oral instructions given by the operator. For each task, the sensor data are transformed into a set of kinematic parameters that may be used as motor outcome reflecting specific neurological dysfunction. For validation against both clinical and patient-reported outcomes as well as MRI findings, we here prospectively investigate a large cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis. This will allow to determine the usefulness of the various kinematic parameters generated and to define a reduced set of the most meaningful parameters for potential use in future MS trials. Data on repeatability and benchmarks for clinically relevant change are essential to interpret test results and, more importantly, changes thereof. Further, this prospective study will yield estimates of progression rates that are required for planning future studies using this motion analysis tool and assessment battery as an outcome. The study is designed to obtain benchmarks for sensitivity and clinical responsiveness. Primary analysis aims to answer the question: Does the SMSW - Maximum Speed worsen with disease progression established as confirmed disability progression based on EDSS after 24 months (defined as 1 step increase in EDSS ≤ 5.5 and 0.5 step in EDSS > 5.5)?

The central hypothesis is that lutein supplementation will improve MPOD and cognition. Accordingly, the specific aims are to 1) to determine the process feasibility associated with participating in 4-month lutein supplementation trial; and 2) to investigate the scientific feasibility of 4-month daily lutein supplementation on biological markers of lutein status and cognitive function among persons with MS.

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effectiveness of MS Disease modifying medications on cognitive fatigue in persons with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Cognitive fatigue is the kind of fatigue that occurs after intense mental concentration as after a session of problem solving.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience problems with cognitive functioning, which can be debilitating and interfere with their daily functioning. However, research has shown that MS disease modifying agents have had some success in treating cognitive problems. The main purpose of this research study is to investigate how well two medicines (alemtuzumab (Campath®) and interferon beta-1a (Rebif®)) work in treating MS-related cognitive problems (e.g., attention, memory, speed of thinking). Participants enrolled will be assessed prior to their first study-related medication dose and re-assessed throughout treatment. It is expected that participants taking Campath® will demonstrate relative stability in cognitive functioning relative to those taking Rebif®. Specifically, the cognitive performance of Rebif® participants will decline somewhat over time, but the cognitive performance of Campath® participants will remain stable.

It's a pilot, interventional prospective monocentric study. It aims to compare the wall / lumen ratio (WLR) of retinal arterioles (common marker of microangiopathies) between patients with multiple sclerosis and controls using the technique of adaptive optics.

The purpose of the study is to develop a detailed pregnancy registry of patients with Multiple Sclerosis in the New England states. Women with a diagnosis of MS that are either pregnant or actively planning to become pregnant are eligible to participate. The study will solely take place through phone interviews. One of the study coordinator at the Partners MS Center will contact the participant for an intake phone interview where general information about the individual, their pregnancy and their MS will be collected. Thereafter the coordinator will contact the participant every 3 months for 20 minutes follow up interviews. After birth, the coordinator will collect information on the growth and development of the participant's baby. Pediatric interviews will be conducted at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36 months. Information from the participant's neurologist and obstetrician, as well as information from the baby's pediatrician, will be made available to the study staff at regular intervals throughout the duration of the study. Through this study, the investigators hope to learn more about the effects of MS on pregnancy and pediatric development, and about the effects of pregnancy on the course of MS.

We aim to evaluate the role of conventional and advanced MRI sequences in: Establishing the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and differentiate it from its mimics. Predict the prognosis and evaluate the treatment response in the first year of patients with multiple sclerosis.