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Cervical Spinal Cord Metabolism and Microstructure in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS)

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Registration Number
NCT02000713
Lead Sponsor
University of Michigan
Brief Summary

The investigators want to know if magnetic resonance imaging can accurately provide an early diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Detailed Description

Currently there is no definitive diagnostic test for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The investigators' goal is to determine if magnetic resonance imaging can provide an accurate diagnosis of ALS by looking at chemical concentrations in the spinal cord at the neck level which show up in MRI imaging and compare these chemical concentrations to corresponding measures in healthy control subjects.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Adults age 18 to 80 years of age.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Do not have active substance abuse
  2. Do not have co-morbid psychiatric disease
  3. Do not have opportunistic central nervous system infection
  4. Do not have cerebrovascular disease
  5. Do not have a contraindication for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)(e.g. cardiac pacemaker, ferromagnetic or metallic implants).
  6. Are not pregnant
  7. Have not had cervical spinal surgery(neck) -

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Study levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)in the cervical spinal cord.60 minutes or as needed (rarely more than 2 hours)

1. Study investigators will measure the differences in the spinal cord metabolite, N-acetylaspartate in ALS subjects compared to healthy controls using magnetic spectroscopy.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fractional anisotropy in the cervical spinal cord3 years

Study fractional anisotropy levels (unitless) using diffusion tensor imaging in ALS patients compared to healthy controls in the cervical spinal cord.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Michigan Hospital

🇺🇸

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

University of Michigan Hospital
🇺🇸Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

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