Muscle Strain in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Measured by Ultrasound Speckle Tracking Technique

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2022-02-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Despite effective treatments, the majority of patients with multiple sclerosis experience walking impairments to a degree where walking aids or a wheelchair is required. Since 2009, medical treatment of walking impairments has been possible with fampridine, which has proven effective in approximately 40% of the patients. At present, the treatment is offered on the basis of a measurable improved walking function evaluated by simple performance-based walking tests. The treatment is offered on the basis of a measurable improved walking distance.

This is shown today using simple performance-based walking tests that are difficult to complete for those MS patients who are without gait function but could still benefit from fampridine treatment.

Ultrasound speckle tracking is a non-invasive ultrasound technique, with the potential to measure muscle function, including muscle contractility (through strain). Ultrasound speckle tracking is designed for dynamic cardiac muscular examination, but can in a modified version be used for assessment of the skeletal muscles.

The purpose of this project is to use ultrasound speckle tracking to monitor muscle contractility in MS patients receiving vs. not receiving fampridine treatment. Furthermore, to relate these results to biomarkers in blood and urine to examine disease progression and muscle activity.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Southern Denmark
• Collaborators: Fonden for scleroseramte på Fyn; Fonden for scleroseramte paa Fyn; Fonden til Lægevidenskabens Fremme; Lounkær Fonden; Odense University Hospital; Overlægeråds forskningsfond; Region of Southern Denmark; Sygehus Lillebaelt; TH MAIGAARDS EFTF. FRU LILY BENTHINE LUNDS FOND AF 1. JUNI 1978; The Augustinus Foundation, Denmark.; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society; The Lily Benthine Lunds Foundation; The Lounkaer Foundation; University of Miami
• Treatments: 4-Aminopyridine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fills the criteria for fampridine treatment

• Fills the diagnostic McDonald criteria for MS

• Age between 18 and 100 years

• EDSS between 4 and 7

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed epilepsy

• MS attack or an acute decrease of functional capacity within the last 60 days

• Change in immunomodulatory treatment within the last 60 days

• Cancer within the last 5 years

• Clinically significant systemic disease

• Concurrent treatment with cimetidine, carvediol, propanolol and metformine