Validation of Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Overview

The purpose of this study is to collect 650 blood and 300 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), pure lower or upper motor neuron diseases, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases and from people with no neurological disorder. Through comparison of these samples, the researchers hope to learn more about the underlying cause of ALS, as well as find unique biological markers, which could be used to diagnose ALS and monitor disease progression. Additionally, up to 600 blood samples will be collected for a sub-study for DNA analysis. Studying components of the blood, such as DNA, may help us understand what happens when genes function abnormally and how it might be related to disease.

Full Title of Study: “A Multicenter Study for the Validation of ALS Biomarkers”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Prospective
  • Study Primary Completion Date: November 2015

Detailed Description

Researchers tested what changes happen in volunteers with ALS that can be seen in the blood and what changes are unique to ALS and are different from those found in healthy volunteers and volunteers with neurological diseases other than ALS. These changes are called biomarkers. Biomarkers for ALS have been found in blood collected in earlier phases of this study. Biomarkers are non-genetic elements in your blood that may help to make diagnosing ALS easier. In the next phase, comparison of these changes in the blood of volunteers with ALS and without ALS will be used to confirm these biomarkers and to develop a tool to diagnose and monitor progression of ALS.

Interventions

  • Other: No intervention
    • Sample collection

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Early ALS
  • Suspected ALS
  • Disease Mimics of ALS
  • Healthy Controls

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R)
    • Time Frame: Every 6 months
    • The ALSFRS-R is a quickly administered (5 min) ordinal rating scale used to determine a subject’s assessment of their capability and independence in 12 functional activities. There are 12 questions, graded by the subject 0-4 (4 is normal). Score of 0 (worst) to 48 (best). Reflects speech and swallowing, fine motor skills, large motor skills, and breathing.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

1. ALS Volunteers Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of possible (excluding volunteers with UMN signs ONLY), probable, probable-laboratory supported, or definite ALS, either sporadic or familial according to revised El Escorial criteria – Disease duration of less than or equal to two years from symptom onset – Age 30-80 years at the time of disease onset – Ability to provide informed consent – Ability to comply with study procedures – Medically safe to have lumbar puncture (lumbar puncture volunteers only) Exclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical evidence of chronic liver or renal failure – Presence of a bleeding disorder, problems with CSF pressure, allergy to local anesthetics, or a topical or other skin infection at the LP site (lumbar puncture volunteers only) – Use of any anti-platelet or anticoagulant drugs, such as plavix, aggrenox, ticlid, warfarin or coumadin (lumbar puncture volunteers only) 2. Suspected ALS (PMND) Volunteers Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of suspected ALS defined as presence of UMN or LMN signs alone and the diagnosis of Clinically Probably Laboratory-Supported ALS CANNOT be proven by evidence in clinical grounds in conjunction with electrodiagnostic, neurophysiologic, neuroimaging or clinically laboratory studies – Disease duration of less than or equal to four years from symptom onset – Age 30-80 years at time of disease onset – Ability to provide informed consent – Ability to comply with study procedures – Medically safe to have lumbar puncture (lumbar puncture volunteers only) Exclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical evidence of chronic liver or renal failure – Genetically confirmed diagnosis of hereditary spastic paraparesis or spinal motor atrophy (SMA) disease – Presence of a bleeding disorder, problems with CSF pressure, allergy to local anesthetics, or a topical or other skin infection at the LP site (lumbar puncture volunteers only) – Use of any anti-platelet or anticoagulant drugs, such as plavix, aggrenox, ticlid, warfarin or coumadin (lumbar puncture volunteers only) 3. Neurological Disease Mimic Volunteers Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis of one of the following: Pure Lower Motor Neuron Disease (LMND) mimics:

  • Multi-focal motor neuropathy – Autoimmune motor neuropathy – Cervical or lumbosacral radiculopathies Peripheral mononeuropathies: – Ulnar neuropathy – Carpal tunnel syndrome/median neuropathy – Peroneal neuropathy – Sciatic neuropathy – Spinal muscular atrophy – Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy's disease) – Charcot Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) Pure Upper Motor Neuron Disease (UMND) mimics: – Cervical myelopathy – Multiple sclerosis – Hereditary spastic paraparesis – Age 30-80 years – Ability to provide informed consent – Ability to comply with study procedures – Medically safe to have lumbar puncture (lumbar puncture volunteers only) Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of suspected, possible, probable or definite ALS either sporadic or familial – Presence of positive family history of ALS – Clinical evidence of chronic renal or liver failure – Presence of a bleeding disorder, problems with CSF pressure, allergy to local anesthetics, or a topical or other skin infection at the LP site (lumbar puncture volunteers only) – Use of any anti-platelet or anticoagulant drugs, such as plavix, aggrenox, ticlid, warfarin or coumadin (lumbar puncture volunteers only) 4. Healthy Control Volunteers Inclusion Criteria – Absence of a known neurological disorder. – Age 30 – 80 years. – Ability to provide informed consent. – Ability to comply with study procedures. – Medically safe to have lumbar puncture. Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of ALS, myopathy, neuropathy, ALS mimic disorder or other neurodegenerative disease. – Presence of positive family history of ALS. – Clinical evidence of chronic liver or renal failure. – Presence of bleeding disorder, problems with CSF pressure, allergy to local anesthetics, or a topical or other skin infection at the LP site (LP research volunteers only). – Research participant must not be taking anti-platelet or anticoagulant drugs, such as plavix, aggrenox, ticlid, warfarin or coumadin (LP research volunteers only).

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 30 Years

Maximum Age: 80 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Collaborator
    • ALS Association
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: James D. Berry MD, Principal Investigator – Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Overall Official(s)
    • James D. Berry, MD, MPH, Principal Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital

Clinical trials entries are delivered from the US National Institutes of Health and are not reviewed separately by this site. Please see the identifier information above for retrieving further details from the government database.

At TrialBulletin.com, we keep tabs on over 200,000 clinical trials in the US and abroad, using medical data supplied directly by the US National Institutes of Health. Please see the About and Contact page for details.