Active clinical trials for "Multiple System Atrophy"

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a progressive sporadic neurodegenerative disorder leading to widespread loss of brain cells that results in parkinsonian, cerebellar and autonomic dysfunction. The cause of the MSA remains unclear. Available treatment is symptomatic only and does not alter the course of disease. Although the cause of MSA remains unclear, there is evidence of presence of common neuroinflammatory mechanisms in the MSA brains including activation of microglia and production of toxic cytokines. This research protocol is based on hypothesis that the MSA progression can be altered by blocking the neuroinflammatory activity. This protocol includes administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). IVIg contains antibodies derived from human plasma which can block the inflammatory responses in the brain that can lead to loss of brain cells.

Please note that the continuation study can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00633880. RATIONALE: Neurogenic hypotension is a fall in blood pressure that occurs when one moves from a lying down to a standing position or after eating a meal. It causes one to feel dizzy, light headed, and weak. Neurogenic hypotension is caused by a problem in the part of the nervous system that controls such functions as heart rate and blood pressure. Droxidopa, a drug that may increase blood pressure, may be an effective treatment for neurogenic hypotension. PURPOSE: Clinical trial to study the effectiveness of droxidopa in treating patients who have neurogenic hypotension.

TRACK-MSA is an observational, non-interventional, longitudinal natural history study to define changes in clinical, neurological, blood, CSF, and neuroimaging biomarkers in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) comparing baseline to 6-month and 1-year assessments. The study will enroll 50 patients with MSA-P or MSA-C at 2 or more participating sites.

This study is based on positive results in open label trial of mesenchymal stem cells therapy in patients with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether speed-dependent measures of gait can be identified in patients with neurological conditions that affect gait, particularly in subjects with parkinsonian disorders.

The specific aim of this study is to determine whether water ingestion potentiates the pressor response to pseudoephedrine in patients with primary disorders of autonomic failure. The study design will enable us to also evaluate the pressor response to water alone and to pseudoephedrine alone. In a secondary analysis, we will compare the results in patients with two autonomic disorders, pure autonomic failure (PAF) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). We hypothesize that drinking water following a dose of pseudoephedrine will lead to a greater increase in blood pressure than pseudoephedrine alone.

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that angiotensin II plays a role in the supine hypertension of primary autonomic failure. To determine the contribution of angiotensin II to renin and blood pressure regulation in autonomic failure, patients with multiple system atrophy [MSA] or pure autonomic failure [PAF] and supine hypertension will undergo medication testing with the angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan. The investigators will compare the biochemical and hemodynamic effects between MSA and PAF patients. In a subset of patients, the investigators will also give the ACE inhibitor captopril. Our primary endpoint will be changes in plasma renin activity, and subsequent components of the circulating renin-angiotensin system, in response to angiotensin II blockade. Our secondary outcome will be changes in hemodynamic measures during administration of these drugs.

This is a multicenter, open-label, non-controlled, non-randomized, phase 3 clinical study to compare the SPECT findings after a single IV administration of DaTSCAN™ ioflupane (123I) injection for patients with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndrome (PS) involving striatal dopaminergic deficit (SDD; specifically, Parkinson's disease [PD] [SDD], multiple system atrophy [MSA] [SDD] or or progressive supranuclear palsy [PSP] [SDD]) as compared with patients with a clinical diagnosis of essential tremor (ET) (no SDD) and age-matched healthy controls.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether ambulatory polygraphy during a short hospitalization in a neurology unit has the same performance than inpatient polysomnography, the actual gold standard, in the diagnosis of sleep apnea in patients suffering from multiple system atrophy (MSA).

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of Droxidopa for the treatment of fatigue in patients with Parkinsonism by the Visual Analog Fatigue Scale (VAFS). This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial for 3 months where half the subjects will receive placebo and the other half will receive Droxidopa. Following this will be a wash-out period of 7 days and then all subjects will receive Droxidopa for 3 months during the open-label phase.