Assessment of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Tropical Spastic Paraparesis

Vasculitis

Herpesviridae Infection

HTLV-I Infection

Study type

Observational

Funder types

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00001156

76-N-0021

760021

Details and patient eligibility

About

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the nervous system. The exact cause of MS is unknown, but it is believed to be an autoimmune condition. Autoimmune conditions are diseases that cause the body's immune system and natural defenses to attack healthy cells. In the case of MS, the immune system begins attacking myelin, the cells that make up the sheath covering nerves. Without myelin, nerves are unable to transmit signals effectively and symptoms occur.

This study is directed toward a better understanding of the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Researchers will evaluate patients with a tentative diagnosis of MS or other neurological diseases possibly caused by a immunological reaction. Patients will undergo a series of three MRIs, taken once a month for three months and submit blood samples for immunological studies.

Full description

The Neuroimmunology Branch (NIB) conducts research into the cause of immunologically mediated diseases of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The studies in the NIB range for studies of the natural history of MS to trials of new experimental therapies. In order to recruit patients into the various NIB research studies, patients with a tentative diagnosis are initially seen by the NIB to assess the accuracy of the diagnosis and to assess the level of disease activity occurring in the patient. Patients seen under the NIB screening protocol are evaluated in clinic with a complete neurological examination. Blood studies necessary to eliminate the possibility of many other causes of disease that may resemble MS are performed. Spinal fluid examination may be preformed if uncertainty exists with respect to the diagnosis. Finally, patients will have at least one MRI preformed to assess the consistency with MRI findings expected in MS. Most patients will have a series of three MRIs done approximately one month apart in order to assess the frequency of new contrast enhancing lesions occurring in the patient. The level of disease on MRI is important both from the standpoint of diagnosis as well as determining if the patient may be eligible for any other NIB protocols. To assess the patient's eligibility for other NIB studies, the NIB may periodically follow patients in whom the diagnosis is uncertain or in whom the level of disease activity is not clear for the initial evaluation.

Enrollment

1,388 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 75 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria