Clinical trial NCT02003937: Aerobic Training in Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type III
Official title: Aerobic Training Improves Oxidative Capacity, But Not Function in Spinal Muscular Atrophy III
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Lead sponsor: Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2013-12-06
Enrollment: 15
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Spinal muscular atrophy type III, (SMAIII) is a disease in the nerve cells in the spinal cord which leads to to progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. No effective treatment is available for SMA. We have previously shown that patients with muscular dystrophies improve oxidative capacity (VO2max), muscle strength and daily function by aerobic conditioning. Patients with SMAIII share many clinical features with these conditions, although the mechanism of muscle weakness is different. In this study, we investigated how patients with SMAIII respond to aerobic training.

6 patients and 9 healthy age- and sex-matched controls completed a 12 weeks training program. Subjects performed a total of 42 training session of 30 min on a stationary cycle ergometer at home. The work intensity was moderate and set to match a target heart rate.

Training induced an increase without inducing muscle damage. However, training-induced fatigue was a major complaint in all patients, and caused one patient to drop out, increased the need for sleep in three patients and two had to modify the training program.

The fatigue limits the use of this therapy. The training-induced fatigue, which is not encountered in muscle diseases, warrants investigations into alternative training methods to improve quality of life in patients with SMAIII.

Detailed description: Spinal muscular atrophy type III, (SMAIII) is a recessively inherited disease in the lower motor neuron in the anterior horn of spinal cord leading to to progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Currently there is no effective treatment available for SMA. We have previously shown that patients with muscular dystrophies improve oxidative capacity (VO2max), muscle strength and daily function by aerobic conditioning. Patients with SMAIII share many clinical features with these conditions, although the mechanism of muscle weakness is different. In this study, we investigated how patients with SMAIII respond to aerobic training.

6 patients and 9 healthy age- and sex-matched controls completed a 12 weeks training program. Subjects performed a total of 42 training session of 30 min on a stationary cycle ergometer at home. The work intensity was moderate and set to match a target heart rate.

VO2max was measured during a incremental exercise test using indirect calorimetry before and after the training period. Functional tests adressing patients walking and stair climbing abilities, were performed before and after the training period. Changes in activities of daily living was adressed in a standardized questionnaire after the training period.

Training induced an increase without inducing muscle damage. There were no changes in patients' functional capacities. However, training-induced fatigue was a major complaint in all patients, and caused one patient to drop out, increased the need for sleep in three patients and two had to modify the training program.

The fatigue limits the use of this therapy. The training-induced fatigue, which is not encountered in muscle diseases, warrants investigations into alternative training methods to improve quality of life in patients with SMAIII.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Genetically verified SMAIII

Exclusion Criteria:

* other serious medical conditions that could confound the interpretation of results and
* regular exercise more than one hour weekly

Primary outcomes:
measure: Changes in oxidative capacity with aerobic conditioning in SMAIII patients
timeFrame: After 12 weeks of aerobic training
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in maximal workload capacity with aerobic conditioning in SMAIII patients
timeFrame: After 12 weeks of aerobic conditioning
measure: Changes in isometric muscle strength with aerobic conditioning in SMAIII patients
timeFrame: After 12 weeks of aerobic conditioning
measure: Changes in daily function with aerobic conditioning in SMAIII patients
timeFrame: After 12 weeks of aerobic training
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Copenhagen E
country: Denmark
facility: Rigshospitalet, Neuromuscular Research Unit, 3342
Study officials:
affiliation: Rigshospitalet, Denmark
name: Karen L Madsen, M.Sc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: