Active clinical trials for "Muscular Atrophy, Spinal"

The goal of this observational study is to to establish profiles of clinical progression in patients affected by the different types of SMA (type I, II and III) treated with the currently approved drugs using a structured battery of clinical tests. Another goal of the study is to assess the progression of the disease in patients identified through neonatal screening.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by loss of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord and leading to muscle atrophy. SMA has an autosomal recessive inheritance and affects 1 in 6000 infants with a carrier frequency of 1 in 40. In most cases, it is caused by homozygous gene deletion or gene conversion of the SMN1 gene (0+0 genotype) on 5q11-q13. This genomic region has been duplicated and inverted during evolution. Thus the SMN1 gene has a very homologous copy, called SMN2. Genetic counseling aim at detecting carriers with only one copy of the SMN1 gene (0+1 genotype). SMA carrier testing relies on total copy number quantification of the SMN1 copies by quantitative PCR methods. Nevertheless, cis-duplication of the SMN1 gene on one allele and deletion on the second allele (2+0 genotype) can lead to a misinterpretation as molecular methods show 2 copies of the SMN1 gene and cannot detect the carrier status. The aim of the study is the characterization of a biomarker specific of the cis-duplication of the SMN1 gene in order to allow the detection of this 2+0 genotype which constitutes a trap for genetic counseling. We will use molecular combing to identify a genomic morse code (GMC) composed of a combination of probes specific of a structural motif on the cis-duplication chromosome. The characterization of this GMC is based on the comparison of two sample groups: The test group, with a maximum of 137 individuals carrying 3 copies of the SMN1 gene (suggesting a cis-duplication on one allele) The control-1 group, with a maximum of 137 individuals carrying 2 copies of the SMN1 gene A pilot study performed on 24 samples in the two groups is needed to define the exact sample number necessary for statistical analysis of the study. When the GMC will be characterized, its specificity will be evaluated by testing two sample groups: The test group, with 37 individuals carrying 3 copies of the SMN1 gene The control-2 group, with 37 individuals carrying 3 copies of the SMN2 gene Molecular combing needs long DNA fibers and usual methods for DNA extraction are not appropriate. This project requires new blood samples for specific DNA extraction. If this project is successful, during a second project, this GMC will be converted into a simple and cheap PCR-based method. We will then evaluate the sensitivity of this method on our sample collection, notably on individuals with the 2+0 genotype defined by familial genotyping.

In a study from 2003 the investigators showed that adult patients with very low skeletal muscle mass (spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type II, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, congenital muscular dystrophy) are prone to develop hypoglycemia during prolonged fasting. Since then case reports have described the same phenomenon with hypoglycemia and metabolic crises in children with low skeletal muscle mass provoked by infection, fasting and surgery. Pathophysiological mechanisms of metabolism have never been investigated in adults or children with SMA II. Thus the investigators studied fat and glucose metabolism during prolonged fasting in patients with SMA II and LAMA 2 and compared results to those found in healthy controls.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder in humans which results in the loss of motor neurons. It is caused by reduced levels of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein as a result of loss or mutation of the SMN1 gene. SMN protein is encoded by two genes, SMN1 and SMN2, which essentially differ by an single nucleotide in exon 7. As a result, the majority of the transcript from SMN2 lacks exon 7. According to clinical severity, SMA was classified to three types, including type I, type II, and type III. Drugs capable of modifying the transcription pattern of SMN2 to increase the full-length of SMN mRNA expression and the amount of SMN protein may have therapeutic effects for SMA patients. In order to test this hypothesis, we used EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the different types of SMA patients to screen the effect of various drugs on SMN2 gene expression. Hydroxyurea (HU) was found to be effective among the drugs we tested. HU is an effective therapeutic agent for patients with thalassemia and sickle cell disease which the toxicity is minimal and is well-tolerated and safely used in children. We had undergone a small-scaled 33 SMA patients randomized pilot trial (HU treatment for 8 weeks and then follow up drug-free 8 weeks) to evaluate the effect of HU in SMA patients and we got a promising preliminary data. We found that HU could significantly increase in the manual muscle testing scores at 4 weeks, and full-length SMN mRNA level in the 30mg/kg/day subgroup at 8 weeks relative to baseline, and it is safe under the dose 30mg/kg/day. In this study, we plan to enroll 60 type II and III SMA patients and conduct a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective trial of two-year duration to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HU.The primary end points are the changes in full-length SMN expression, SMN protein, motor function and lung function in SMA patients. We also design a safety monitoring system to investigate the adverse effects and to assure the patients' safety. We hope we can find and prove the efficacy and safety of HU in SMA patients and set up a evaluating model for multi-center trials in the future.

The study is a randomized, single oral dose, crossover study in up to three parts to investigate the relative bioavailability and bioequivalence of two different formulations of risdiplam 5 mg (dispersible tablets) versus the current risdiplam oral solution formulation in healthy male and female participants. The effect of food on these two dispersible tablets and the current oral solution will be studied, as well as the effect of omeprazole on the dispersible tablets.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease of motor neurons. In the early 1980s, Werdnig from Vienna University and Hoffman from Heidelberg University described this disorder. So SMA type 1 was named Werdnig- Hoffman disease. This is the first genetic disorder that cause death after cystic fibrosis in infants with the prevalence of 1 in 6000 birth. Mutation in the SMN1 gene (Survival Motor Neuron) is the reason for the disease that cause decrease in the SMN protein production. So the alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord ventricle horn will be destroyed and it cause progressive paralysis and defenite death.No specific therapy is yet available for the treatment of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. Treatment is not disease-modifying and just is supportive. SMA type 1 is diagnosed within the early 6 month after birth and accompanied with breath disorders and definite death in 2 years. The affected infants have a weak muscle tone and they couldn't even hold their head up. Perhaps the only open way for these patients is the application of stem cells that could deliver trophic factor to the apoptotic cells. So this study focuses on the effectivness of cell therapy via adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells on the probable phenotypic changes in these patients.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by muscle weakness due to degeneration of anterior horn cells in the spinal cord and brain stem nuclei. It has a variable incidence of 1 in 6700 to 1 in 25000 live births and prevalence of 0.12 to 25 per 10,000 populations in different geographic areas and genetic constitution. A homozygous deletion/mutation involving exon 7 in SMN1 (survival motor neuron 1) is present in around 95% of the cases, resulting in the biochemical deficiency of the SMN protein. A genomic duplication at the same locus produces nearly identical SMN2 (survival motor neuron 2) that differs from SMN1 by a nucleotide substitution that promotes exon 7 exclusion thus giving rise to only a fraction of the full length protein. Phenotypic variation in SMA correlates with the number of SMN2 gene copies and the level of SMN protein in cells. Several hypotheses including defective inhibition of apoptosis, glutamate excitotoxicity and lack of a neurotrophic factor(s) in nerve or muscle have been speculated in the pathogenesis of SMA. Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, directly increases SMN expression in SMA patient-derived cell lines in vitro. Till date 3 open label trials and 1 placebo controlled RCT of VPA in human subjects have been published, all indicating a possible benefit in strength and/or motor function. Till date there is no effective therapy for SMA. Therapy is mainly supportive and palliative which can prolong lifespan and prevent complications to some extent without actually curing the disease. Children with SMA may have a reduced capacity to synthesis carnitine consequent to significantly diminished skeletal muscle mass. VPA independently inhibits carnitine transport and its metabolites deplete carnitine levels by binding to them. So along with valproate these patients should be supplemented with carnitine. With this background the investigators have planned a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial of Valproate and levocarnitine in 60 children (30 each in intervention and control arm) with Spinal Muscular Atrophy aged 2-15 years over a 2 year period with one baseline and four follow up visits. The study will be conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS at the Myopathy clinic.

Ambulation would bring many physiological and psychological benefits and getting up and walking has been a dream for paraplegia patients.The reciprocating gait orthoses (RGOs) for paraplegics particularly draws research attentions because it mimics human gait pattern.But, the high energy consumption and low walking speeds caused the frequent abandonment or the low utilization of the reciprocating gait orthoses.To improve the design reducing the energy expenditure, it requires biomechanical analysis of the pathological gait such that the gait deviations and energy consuming mechanisms can be identified and remedial means can be implemented. The investigators hypotheses will include that there would exist an energy saving mechanism of human reciprocating locomotion based on the principle of conservation of mechanical energy.Secondly, kinematic and kinetic gait determinants could be derived from the energy saving mechanism. Finally, the control of knee joint coordinating with the hip joint movements would facilitate the gait progression and further reduce the energy consumption. The objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the gait of paraplegic patients with reciprocating gait orthoses and to support the investigators research in biomechanical analysis, design and control of reciprocating gait orthoses for paraplegia patients. An experiment to study the pathological gait of paraplegia patients with an existing reciprocating gait orthosis will be carried out.

Herein, the investigators study the safety and efficacy of transplanting purified autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells transplanted via the intrathecal route by interventional radiology and the intravenous route.

Intrathecal administration of Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide capable of increasing Survival Motor Neuron protein production, has been tested in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to improve motor function and survival. A feature of adult SMA patients is a progressive neuromyopathic scoliosis, so spinal nusinersen administration can be challenging. Landmark identification using a pre-procedure ultrasound (US) facilitates technical performance of spinal anesthesia and allows for the elimination of radiation exposure. The aim of this randomized prospectic study is to determine if the US assistance for spinal administration of nusinersen is able to increase the proportion at successful 1st needle insertion of the needle. Secondary outcome measures are procedure time, patient satisfaction and prevalence of postdural puncture headache. Patients will be randomlized to receive a US-assisted nusinersen administration or a landmark based nusinersen administration.