PET Imaging Study of Neurochemical and Autonomic Disorders in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)

University of Michigan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple System Atrophy - Parkinsonian Subtype (MSA-P); Multiple System Atrophy - Cerebellar Subtype (MSA-C)

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT02035761

NS044233 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a disorder of the nervous system of unclear cause. In MSA there is degeneration (progressive loss) of nerve cells in several brain and spinal cord regions. The result is a variety of symptoms, from physical (parkinsonism, ataxia, incoordination, falls, slowness) to autonomic (fainting, bladder incontinence, sexual dysfunction) to sleep problems (dream enactment, sleep apnea).

This research aims to help us better understand the patterns and timing of nerve degeneration relatively early in the disease, and how this affects symptoms and progression. For instance:

1. Does MSA affect certain nerves that stimulate heart pumping? If so, does the severity of loss of heart nerves affect disease progression and survival?
2. It is thought that MSA does not affect memory and thinking much, unlike other diseases (such as Parkinson's). Is this accurate? Is there loss of nerves that transmit acetylcholine (a neurochemical important in mental functioning)?
3. What can we learn about mood and sleep in MSA, through visualizing the serotonin system in the brain? How does this relate to symptoms that subjects report in these often underappreciated areas?

To answer these and other questions, investigators will take images of specific nerves in the brain and heart using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. Such imaging gives us information that cannot be obtained from MRIs and CT scans. We will measure the levels of several nerve cell types: serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine. Subjects will also have many standardized assessments including quality-of-life and symptom assessments, neurological examination, autonomic assessments, neuropsychological assessments, coordination tests, and even assessments of vision and sense of smell. By pooling these results from many MSA patients, and comparing with other diseases (such as Parkinson's disease) we hope to gain a better understanding of what is happening early in MSA. Such knowledge could be very valuable in future efforts to develop better therapies in this rare disease.

Full description

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging involves injection of radioactive tracers (small amounts of biologically active molecules with radioactive atoms attached) and scanning the body to see where the tracers localize, and how intensely they "stick" there.

The tracers are used in such small amounts that they do not affect brain or body functions. The amount of radioactivity used is also very small and disappears quickly. Overall radiation exposure for participants is low and well within accepted safety levels for the human body.

Enrollment: 23 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Participants aged 30-80 years old with a diagnosis of Possible or Probable MSA of the parkinsonian subtype (MSA-P) or cerebellar subtype (MSA-C)

Participants who are less than 4 years from the time of documented MSA diagnosis

Participants who are willing and able to give informed consent

"Normal" cognition as assessed by Mini Mental State Examination

Exclusion criteria

Pregnant or lactating females

Participants with a clinically significant or unstable medical or surgical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, might preclude safe completion of the study or might affect the results of the study. These include conditions causing significant CNS or autonomic dysfunction, including congestive heart failure, recent (<6 months) myocardial infarction, thrombocytopenia (<50 x 10(9)/L), immunosuppressed state, severe uncontrolled hypertension, severe cardiopulmonary disease, severe anemia (hemoglobin <8g/dl), severe liver or kidney disease (creatinine >2.3 mg/dl) uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c >10g%), alcoholism, malignant neoplasms, amyloidosis, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, unstable peripheral neuropathies, concurrent infections, orthopedic problems that compromise mobility and activities of daily living, severe cerebrovascular accidents (causing symptoms such as hemiplegia, aphasia and non-dominant parietal lobe syndrome), and neurotoxins or neuroactive drug exposure, parkinsonism due to drugs (including neuroleptics, L-methyldopa, reserpine, metoclopramide).

Females who are pregnant

Subjects known to have porphyria

The regular use of neuroleptics within the six months prior to the initial evaluation. Occasional use of a neuroleptic as an anti-emetic in the past is allowed, providing not more than three doses were taken within the previous 12 months

Diseases more consistent with Lewy Body dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, essential tremor, inherited cerebellar degeneration, or postencephalitic parkinsonism

Subjects receiving psychostimulants, antimuscarinics (trihexphenidyl, benztropine, and tricyclic antidepressants), acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, trazodone or modafinil will be excluded as they may interfere with study measures. Subjects with prior exposure to disallowed medications may be eligible if there has been an interval of > 2months for these medications, at the discretion of the investigators

Dementia (DSM-IV criteria - Amer. Psych. Association, 1994). The score on the Mini-Mental State Examination must be >24

Trial design

23 participants in 1 patient group

MSA Case

Description:

The screening evaluation will take less than 1 to 2 hours, and is usually conducted over the telephone. The visit for testing will take approximately 3 days, consisting (usually) of a day for clinical examinations and questionnaires and one day each for PET and MRI brain imaging and the third day for PET imaging of the heart and autonomic testing. If some checklists and questionnaires could not be completed conveniently in the time available, they may be finished over the telephone on a later day. At the completion of the 3-day evaluation, subjects are asked to return home and keep a log of their MSA symptoms and medication responses for 2 days. This will complete the active participation of MSA subjects in all aspects of the entire research program. The average time the subjects will be followed could be up to 1 week during which time the subjects are undergoing research related procedures.