Clinical trial NCT03683875: Ultrasonography of the Neuromuscular Degeneration Behavior in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Official title: Ultrasonography of the Neuromuscular Degeneration Behavior in ALS: a Longitudinal Study
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lead sponsor: Hospital General Universitario Santa Lucia
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Universidad de Murcia
First posted: 2018-09-25
Enrollment: 26
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Brief summary: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurological disease.

An exhaustive and frequent clinical evaluation can lead to establish an adequate and early treatment of the consequences of its evolution.

Objectives.

1. To evaluate the evolution of diaphragmatic and peripheral neuromuscular degeneration by ultrasound examination in patients with ALS and to establish possible evolution patterns.
2. To verify the relationship between the degenerative peripheral and diaphragmatic neuromuscular changes evaluated by ultrasonography and changes in clinical scales frequently used.
3. To compare the ultrasonographic features of subjects with ALS and a sample of healthy subjects Methods. A longitudinal observational study in a consecutive sample of patients diagnosed with ALS will be realized. All the patients will be examined 3 times, with an interval of at least 3 months between tests. Bilateral and cross sectional ultrasonography of several peripheral muscles and diaphragm will be performed at rest and during muscle contraction. All the images will be processed and analyzed for obtaining morphometric variables (muscle thickness) and textural ones (echogenic variation, entropy, homogeneity, textural contrast and correlation). Frequency of twitches will be also recorded in peripheral muscles.Also clinical features will be noted, every time of the 3 exams, from Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-r), British Medical Council Research Scale(MRC), and routine pulmonary tests.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Definite ALS

Exclusion Criteria:

* Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
* Other forms of motor neuron disorders

Primary outcomes:
measure: Measuring thickness of peripheral muscles using an ultrasound device
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Measuring echointensity of peripheral muscles using an ultrasound device
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Measuring sonoelastography of peripheral muscles using an ultrasound device
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Thickness Fraction of the Diaphragm in ALS patients and control group.
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Diaphragmatic Excursion (quiet and forced) of the Diaphragm in ALS patients and control group
timeFrame: 3 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Measurement of muscle fasciculations using an ultrasound device
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Measurement of muscle strength using Medical Research Council Scale (MRCs)
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Measurement Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-r)
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Measuring Forced Vital Capacity
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP)
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Sniff- nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP)
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Peak Cough Flow (PCF)
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide in Arterial Blood (PaCO2)
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Cumulative time percentage with SpO2 under 90% (CT90)
timeFrame: 3 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Cartagena
country: Spain
facility: Hospital General Universitario Santa Lucia
state: Murcia
Study officials:
affiliation: HOSPITAL GENERAL UNIVERSITARIO SANTA LUCIA - SERVICIO MURCIANO DE SALUD
name: Antonio Tomás Ríos Cortés
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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citation: Hiwatani Y, Sakata M, Miwa H. Ultrasonography of the diaphragm in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: clinical significance in assessment of respiratory functions. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2013 Mar;14(2):127-31. doi: 10.3109/17482968.2012.729595. Epub 2012 Oct 30.
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