A Multicenter Study for the Validation of ALS Biomarkers
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Enrollment
- 475
- Locations
- 30
- Primary Endpoint
- ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 9 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
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.
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.
Investigators
James D. Berry MD
Principal Investigator
Massachusetts General Hospital
Eligibility Criteria
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)
- •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
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
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.