Study of "Post-Polio Syndrome"

NCT00001185 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 82008382-N-0083
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 360
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Polio or poliomyelitis is the disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus attacks cells in the spinal cord and causes symptoms of fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, and stiffness of the neck. Patients with polio can have long-term weakness of muscles as a result of the damaged cells in the spinal cord. Occasionally, patients that recover from the disease can experience a relapse of muscle weakness. This can occur as long as 25-35 years after first having polio. The condition is called "post-polio syndrome". Not all nerve cells in the spinal cord are damaged by the poliovirus. Some nerve cells remain healthy and take over the work of the damaged cells. Researchers believe that the "post-polio syndrome" may be caused by failure of these overworked nerve cells. However, what causes these overworked nerve cells to disintegrate is unknown. The purpose of this study is to apply specific scientific tests to answer important questions about the causes and development of the post-polio syndrome. Researchers will investigate possible genetic, immunologic, and physiologic causes of the "post-polio syndrome". The study itself will not provide therapy for patients with the condition, but may lead to the development of therapies in the future.

Conditions

Poliomyelitis; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome

Keywords

Poliomyelitis; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Motor Neurons; Late Viral Infection; Motor Neuron Firing; Immune Defects; Post-polio Syndrome; Post-polio Motor Neuron Disease

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients with prior history of a well documented acute paralytic poliomyelitis with or without development of new neuromuscular symptoms after a minimum of 15 years from the acute illness will be studied.
• Patients will be screened in the outpatient clinic and will be studied as inpatients (or, if stable, as outpatients) for three day stay.
• Severly disabled patients with unstable respiratory function or those who require intensive care nursing or respiratory assistance will be excluded from the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Dalakas MC, Elder G, Hallett M, Ravits J, Baker M, Papadopoulos N, Albrecht P, Sever J. A long-term follow-up study of patients with post-poliomyelitis neuromuscular symptoms. N Engl J Med. 1986 Apr 10;314(15):959-63. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198604103141505.

  PMID: 3007983 BACKGROUND

• Dalakas M. Postpolio syndrome. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1990 Dec;2(6):901-7. doi: 10.1097/00002281-199002060-00005. No abstract available.

  PMID: 2083155 BACKGROUND

• Sonies BC, Dalakas MC. Dysphagia in patients with the post-polio syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1991 Apr 25;324(17):1162-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199104253241703.

  PMID: 2011159 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Poliomyelitis; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Myelitis; Central Nervous System Infections; Infections; Enterovirus Infections; Picornaviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Spinal Cord Diseases; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Motor Neuron Disease; TDP-43 Proteinopathies; Proteostasis Deficiencies; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 3, 1999
• First Posted: November 4, 1999
• Study Start: June 1, 1982
• Study Completion: May 1, 2003
• Last Updated: March 4, 2008

Record last verified: 2003-05

Locations

US (1)