Cervical Spinal Cord Metabolism and Microstructure in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS)

University of Michigan

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Treatments: Other: MRI; Other: Clinical Exam

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02000713

HUM00069508

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators want to know if magnetic resonance imaging can accurately provide an early diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Full 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.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Adults age 18 to 80 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

1. Do not have active substance abuse
2. Do not have co-morbid psychiatric disease
3. Do not have opportunistic central nervous system infection
4. Do not have cerebrovascular disease
5. Do not have a contraindication for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)(e.g. cardiac pacemaker, ferromagnetic or metallic implants).
6. Are not pregnant
7. Have not had cervical spinal surgery(neck) -

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Experimental group

Description:

All subjects will be interviewed and administered a brief questionnaire to determine current disease severity. A brief neurological examination will be given to determine reflexes. Subjects will also have magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scans of the cervical spine (neck). Women of child-bearing potential will need to have a urine pregnancy test immediately prior to the MRI scan. Mri scan will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. The clinical examinations will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Subject participation in this study will be complete following the MRI and clinical examinations.

Treatment:

Other: MRI

Other: Clinical Exam

Healthy controls (MRI)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects will also have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the cervical spine(neck). Women of child-bearing potential will need to have a urine pregnancy test immediately prior to the MRI scan. Mri scan will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. Subject participation in this study will be complete following the MRI.

Treatment:

Other: MRI