Cervical Spinal Cord Metabolism and Microstructure in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS)
- 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
- Adults age 18 to 80 years of age.
- Do not have active substance abuse
- Do not have co-morbid psychiatric disease
- Do not have opportunistic central nervous system infection
- Do not have cerebrovascular disease
- Do not have a contraindication for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)(e.g. cardiac pacemaker, ferromagnetic or metallic implants).
- Are not pregnant
- Have not had cervical spinal surgery(neck) -
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 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
Name Time Method Fractional anisotropy in the cervical spinal cord 3 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