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Multiple SclerosisARMSNCT00617383

AT RISK FOR MS - Clinical Conversion of Female Monozygotic Twins Discordant for CIS/MS

An observational study of Multiple Sclerosis and Clinically Isolated Syndrome, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The definition of the most 'at-risk' population within highly susceptible groups would provide an opportunity for preemptive therapeutics. A convenient, safe, and tolerable therapy that delays the onset of clinical disease during the pre-symptomatic stage of demyelinating disease would provide a therapeutic… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 10 to 45 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
How many people
3 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Feb 2008to Dec 2010
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 10 to 45 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult

Study population: female monozygotic twins discordant for CIS/MS

Who may be able to join

  • 'at risk' individuals for MS - female co-twins discordant for CIS/MS.
  • 'at risk' individuals for MS who at the time of randomization have not converted to MS or CIS.
  • 'at risk' individuals will be treatment-naïve for immunomodulatory/suppressive medications.
  • < 46 years old.

Who cannot join

  • Individuals diagnosed with MS or CIS.
  • Other 'at risk' individuals who do not conform to the specific 'at risk' groups outlined above e.g., 1st degree, 2nd degree and 3rd degree relative of MS index cases.
  • Subjects over 45.
  • Use of immunomodulatory medications such as azathioprine, gold, sulfasalazine, minocycline, statins, and MTX or prednisone > 7.5 mg/day within 30 days of randomization for any reason.
  • Active drug use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements or a psychiatric disorder that is unstable or would preclude reliable participation in the study.
  • Serious illness (requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization) such as diabetes mellitus, renal, cardiac, or pulmonary disease. Subjects with a history of alcoholism, or in whom intellectual functioning is impaired sufficiently to interfere with the understanding of the protocol, or participation in the treatment and evaluation program.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Texas - Houston

    Houston, Texas, 77030

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Determine if the Presence of Characteristic MS-like Lesion(s) on Baseline MRI Predisposes to CIS/MS in Female MZ Twins Discordant for CIS/MS.

The definition of the most 'at-risk' population within highly susceptible groups would provide an opportunity for preemptive therapeutics.

A convenient, safe, and tolerable therapy that delays the onset of clinical disease during the pre-symptomatic stage of demyelinating disease would provide a therapeutic alternative to a 'wait and see' approach in subjects at 'high risk' for CIS (clinically isolated syndrome - monosymptomatic demyelinating disease) or MS.

Read more

Identical twins share the same genes and have the highest rate of shared MS. An identical female with a sister twin with MS has a 34% chance of having MS. Non concordant (no MS yet) identical (monozygotic - from the same sperm-egg zygote) female twins provide an ideal population to find out what factors predict the onset of MS in the non-affected twin.

We will recruit 30 identical female twins, one with MS and the other without MS, and obtain brain MRI and biological samples on the non-affected twin and determine if:

  • the presence of characteristic MS-like lesion(s) on baseline MRI predisposes to MS.
  • specific proteins in blood or cerebrospinal fluid predispose to the clinical expression of demyelinating disease

If we can predict by simple tests (MR brain scan and blood tests) the likelihood of the onset of MS in 'at risk' subjects, and have safe and tolerable therapies, we may be able to prevent the clinical onset of demyelinating disease (MS).

Read the detailed description

Primary Objective: Determine if the presence of characteristic MS-like lesion(s) on baseline MRI predisposes to CIS/MS in female MZ twins discordant for CIS/MS.

Secondary Objective: Define the protein and microarray gene expression profile predictive of conversion to MS/CIS in female MZ twins discordant for CIS/MS.

Design and Outcomes: This is a single center, clinical study to determine if the presence of MS-like MRI brain lesions predict the rate of conversion to CIS in female MZ twins discordant for CIS/MS.

We will screen and recruit 30 subjects, and begin to follow these subjects annually for a total of 5 years to determine if MR brain scans predict CIS/MS conversion.

Interventions and Duration: Subjects will be recruited over 2 years and followed for five years with annual neurological examinations and MR brain scans.

Sample Size and Population: 30 female co-twins discordant for CIS/MS will be studied. We predict 72% of the 27% 'at risk' subjects with characteristic MR brain lesions at baseline will convert to CIS within 5 years. We predict only 6% of the 73% 'at risk' subjects without characteristic MR brain lesions at baseline will convert to CIS within 5 years.

These data will determine if paraclinical (MRI) evidence of demyelinating disease and specific blood or cerebrospinal fluid proteins predict clinical expression of disease in highly susceptible populations predicts.

Keywords
demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis, female monozygotic identical twins, MS, non-concordant, clinically isolated syndrome - CIS, brain MRI, proteomics
Medical subject headings
Multiple Sclerosis, Demyelinating Diseases

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Determine if the presence of characteristic MS-like lesion(s) on baseline MRI predisposes to CIS/MS in female MZ twins discordant for CIS/MS.

    Measured: 5 years or exit from study

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Define the protein and microarray gene expression profile predictive of conversion to MS/CIS in female MZ twins discordant for CIS/MS.

    Measured: 5 years or clinical conversion to MS

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Feb 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2008
  3. Primary completionDec 2010
  4. Study completionDec 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
3 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00617383
Sponsor's protocol ID
HSC-MS-07-0327
Other IDs
NMSS Pilot grant PP1464
Acronym
ARMS
Status last verified
Feb 2012
First submitted
5 Feb 2008
Last updated
4 Apr 2017
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Multiple Sclerosis and Clinically Isolated Syndrome, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Apr 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Determine if the presence of characteristic MS-like lesion(s) on baseline MRI predisposes to CIS/MS in female MZ twins discordant for CIS/MS. (time frame: 5 years or exit from study). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Apr 2017.

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