Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Brain Damage in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

NCT00099307 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 05003905-N-0039
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 94
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect damage to certain parts of the brain and analyze the thickness of the brain's outer surface in patients with multiple sclerosis. MRI is a diagnostic test that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. It can sometimes permit diagnosis even before symptoms develop. MS is a disease of white matter, the fatty covering around the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The nerves themselves are called gray matter. Damage to white matter impairs nerve function, leading to a variety of symptoms, such as weakness, vision problems, difficulty walking, paralysis, and others. MRI can detect some changes in white matter, but changes that may also appear in gray matter may be more difficult to find. This study will use new MRI techniques to try to identify gray matter damage in patients with MS. Healthy volunteers and people with MS or clinically isolated syndrome (an early stage of MS in which the patient has had just one of the problems MS can cause) who are between 18 and 55 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and neurological examination, and blood and urine tests. Within one month of the screening evaluation, participants undergo MRI scanning on a standard 1.5 Tesla machine to confirm their health status. (The power of the MRI scanner is measured in Tesla; the higher the Tesla, the better the visualization.) For this procedure, the subject lies on a table that moves into the scanner (a narrow cylinder with a magnetic field), and wears earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. During the procedure, a contrast agent called Gadolinium is injected into the blood stream to brighten the images. The test lasts about 2 hours, during which time the subject must lie still for up to a few minutes at a time. Within a month after the first MRI, participants repeat the test for a second time. The procedure is identical to the first scan, except a 3.0 Tesla machine is used.

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Keywords

White Matter; Grey Matter; Brain; Disability; Lesions; Multiple Sclerosis; MS; Healthy Volunteer; HV

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome or MS.
• Age between 18 and 55.
• EDSS between 0 and 6.5.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of clinical relapse at the time of the enrollment or within the previous 3 months.
• Concomitant systemic disorder or central nervous system diseases of any kind or other related risk factors.
• Previous history of alcohol and substances abuse.
• Medical contraindications for MRI.
• Psychological contraindications for MRI.
• Pregnancy.
• Unable to provide informed consent.
• Age greater than 18 years.
• Systemic disorder or central nervous system diseases of any kind or other related risk factors.
• Previous history of alcohol and substances abuse.
• Medical contraindications for MRI.
• Psychological contraindications for MRI.
• Pregnancy.
• Unable to provide informed consent.
• Age greater than 18 years.

Sponsors & Collaborators

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

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• McFarland HF. The emerging role of MRI in multiple sclerosis and the new diagnostic criteria. Mult Scler. 2002 Feb;8(1):71-2. doi: 10.1177/135245850200800114. No abstract available.

  PMID: 11936491 BACKGROUND

• Li DK, Zhao G, Paty DW. T2 hyperintensities: findings and significance. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2000 Nov;10(4):717-38 ,ix.

  PMID: 11359721 BACKGROUND

• Harris JO, Frank JA, Patronas N, McFarlin DE, McFarland HF. Serial gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scans in patients with early, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: implications for clinical trials and natural history. Ann Neurol. 1991 May;29(5):548-55. doi: 10.1002/ana.410290515.

  PMID: 1859184 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Nervous System Diseases; Demyelinating Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 10, 2004
• First Posted: December 10, 2004
• Study Start: December 8, 2004
• Study Completion: September 28, 2011
• Last Updated: July 2, 2017

Record last verified: 2011-09-28

Locations

US (1)