Sensory NeuronopathyGANECHONCT07365631
Nerve Ultrasound in Acquired and Genetic Sensory Neuronopathies
An observational study of Sensory Neuronopathy, run by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris.
Trial summary
Sensory neuronopathies (also called sensory ganglionopathies) are rare and heterogeneous disorders of genetic or acquired origin, caused by degeneration of the dorsal root ganglia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Sensory Neuronopathy
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jan 2026to Jan 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult patients diagnosed with sensory neuronopathy according to Camdessanché criteria, who underwent nerve ultrasound as part of routine clinical care. Patients are retrospectively identified from medical records across four French tertiary neurology centers between 2024 and 2025, including both acquired and genetic etiologies.
Who may be able to join
- Sensory ganglionopathy diagnosed according to the criteria of Camdessanché et al.
- Nerve ultrasound performed as part of routine clinical care.
- Age > 18 years.
Who cannot join
- Comorbid conditions that may interfere with the interpretation of sensory ganglionopathy.
- Lack of consent (patient opposition to the use of clinical data for research).
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: The Role of Nerve Ultrasound in Distinguishing Acquired and Genetic Sensory Neuronopathies (Ganglionopathy): A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Sensory neuronopathies (also called sensory ganglionopathies) are rare and heterogeneous disorders of genetic or acquired origin, caused by degeneration of the dorsal root ganglia. Their diagnosis currently relies on a combination of clinical evaluation and electrophysiological testing, as no specific biomarker is available.
Early diagnosis is particularly important in acquired forms, where early treatment can significantly influence prognosis.
Read more
Recent studies have reported a characteristic ultrasound pattern in several genetic sensory neuronopathies, showing abnormally small-caliber peripheral nerves in the upper limbs. However, these findings have only been described in genetic conditions. It is therefore unknown whether this ultrasound pattern is specific to genetic causes or may also occur in acquired sensory neuronopathies, especially those with long-standing evolution.
This retrospective multicenter study will analyze data already collected as part of routine care in approximately 50 patients with sensory neuronopathy. The objective is to compare nerve ultrasound findings between genetic and acquired forms, and to evaluate their association with clinical severity and electrophysiological parameters. Determining whether nerve atrophy observed on ultrasound is specific to genetic etiologies could help integrate ultrasound into the diagnostic workup, guiding the choice of complementary tests such as genetic analyses or early treatment initiation in acquired cases.
Read the detailed description
Sensory neuronopathies (also known as sensory ganglionopathies) constitute a rare and heterogeneous group of acquired and genetic disorders related to degeneration of the dorsal root ganglia. Diagnosis relies on clinical and electrophysiological features demonstrating a pure, non-length-dependent sensory involvement. At present, no specific biomarker exists, and diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical and electrophysiological criteria. Because sensory neuronopathies are disabling conditions, early diagnosis is crucial, particularly in acquired forms for which early treatment is an important prognostic factor.
Recently, several studies have reported a unique nerve ultrasound pattern in genetic sensory neuronopathies, showing reduced caliber of mixed peripheral nerves in the upper limbs. A recent literature review suggested that sufficient evidence exists to consider ultrasound as a potential marker of genetic sensory neuronopathies. However, these studies included only patients with genetic etiologies, and no data are currently available regarding ultrasound findings in acquired sensory neuronopathies. Distinguishing between acquired and genetic causes is nevertheless essential, as the prognoses are very different and treatment must be initiated rapidly in acquired forms. Clinical evaluation alone is often insufficient to differentiate these etiologies due to substantial overlap between presentations.
The objective of this study is to compare nerve ultrasound findings in a retrospective, multicenter cohort of patients with sensory neuronopathies of either genetic or acquired origin. The study also aims to analyze correlations between nerve caliber, clinical severity, disease duration, and electrophysiological parameters. Ultimately, this research seeks to determine whether the pattern of nerve atrophy observed on ultrasound is specific to genetic causes or may also be present in acquired forms.
- Conditions
- Sensory Neuronopathy
- Keywords
- Nerve ultrasound, sensory neuronopathy, ganglionopathy, CANVAS
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Cross-sectional area of peripheral nerves according to ganglionopathy etiology (genetic vs acquired)
Measurement of the cross-sectional area (mm²) of peripheral nerves on ultrasound (median nerve at forearm and arm, ulnar nerve at forearm and arm, sural nerve at ankle, radial sensory nerve at distal forearm, C5 and C6 roots at foraminal emergence, and vagus nerve at mid-cervical level) to compare nerve caliber between patients with genetic versus acquired sensory ganglionopathies
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (2)
Correlation between nerve cross-sectional area and clinical severity
Assessment of the association between peripheral nerve cross-sectional area (mm²) and clinical variables, including duration of symptoms (months) and severity of proprioceptive ataxia (Mariette score, 0-3)
Measured: Baseline
Correlation between nerve cross-sectional area and electrophysiological severity
Assessment of the association between peripheral nerve cross-sectional area (mm²) and electrophysiological parameters, including sensory nerve action potential amplitudes (sural and radial nerves, µV) and other available electrophysiological measures relevant to axonal loss
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Jan 2026
- Study startJan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionJan 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sensory NeuronopathyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de ParisThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Guillaume FARGEOT, MD, Principal investigator, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07365631
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- APHP251638
- Acronym
- GANECHO
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 9 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Role of Nerve Ultrasound in Distinguishing Acquired and Genetic Sensory Neuronopathies (Ganglionopathy): A Multicenter Retrospective Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07365631
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GANECHO / APHP251638
- Conditions
- Sensory Neuronopathy
- Keywords
- Nerve ultrasound, sensory neuronopathy, ganglionopathy, CANVAS
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de ParisUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Sensory neuronopathies (also called sensory ganglionopathies) are rare and heterogeneous disorders of genetic or acquired origin, caused by degeneration of the dorsal root ganglia. Their diagnosis currently relies on a combination of clinical evaluation and electrophysiological testing, as no specific biomarker is available.
Early diagnosis is particularly important in acquired forms, where early treatment can significantly influence prognosis.
Recent studies have reported a characteristic ultrasound pattern in several genetic sensory neuronopathies, showing abnormally small-caliber peripheral nerves in the upper limbs. However, these findings have only been described in genetic conditions. It is therefore unknown whether this ultrasound pattern is specific to genetic causes or may also occur in acquired sensory neuronopathies, especially those with long-standing evolution.
This retrospective multicenter study will analyze data already collected as part of routine care in approximately 50 patients with sensory neuronopathy. The objective is to compare nerve ultrasound findings between genetic and acquired forms, and to evaluate their association with clinical severity and electrophysiological parameters. Determining whether nerve atrophy observed on ultrasound is specific to genetic etiologies could help integrate ultrasound into the diagnostic workup, guiding the choice of complementary tests such as genetic analyses or early treatment initiation in acquired cases.
Detailed description
Sensory neuronopathies (also known as sensory ganglionopathies) constitute a rare and heterogeneous group of acquired and genetic disorders related to degeneration of the dorsal root ganglia. Diagnosis relies on clinical and electrophysiological features demonstrating a pure, non-length-dependent sensory involvement. At present, no specific biomarker exists, and diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical and electrophysiological criteria. Because sensory neuronopathies are disabling conditions, early diagnosis is crucial, particularly in acquired forms for which early treatment is an important prognostic factor.
Recently, several studies have reported a unique nerve ultrasound pattern in genetic sensory neuronopathies, showing reduced caliber of mixed peripheral nerves in the upper limbs. A recent literature review suggested that sufficient evidence exists to consider ultrasound as a potential marker of genetic sensory neuronopathies. However, these studies included only patients with genetic etiologies, and no data are currently available regarding ultrasound findings in acquired sensory neuronopathies. Distinguishing between acquired and genetic causes is nevertheless essential, as the prognoses are very different and treatment must be initiated rapidly in acquired forms. Clinical evaluation alone is often insufficient to differentiate these etiologies due to substantial overlap between presentations.
The objective of this study is to compare nerve ultrasound findings in a retrospective, multicenter cohort of patients with sensory neuronopathies of either genetic or acquired origin. The study also aims to analyze correlations between nerve caliber, clinical severity, disease duration, and electrophysiological parameters. Ultimately, this research seeks to determine whether the pattern of nerve atrophy observed on ultrasound is specific to genetic causes or may also be present in acquired forms.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult patients diagnosed with sensory neuronopathy according to Camdessanché criteria, who underwent nerve ultrasound as part of routine clinical care. Patients are retrospectively identified from medical records across four French tertiary neurology centers between 2024 and 2025, including both acquired and genetic etiologies.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Sensory ganglionopathy diagnosed according to the criteria of Camdessanché et al.
- Nerve ultrasound performed as part of routine clinical care.
- Age > 18 years.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Comorbid conditions that may interfere with the interpretation of sensory ganglionopathy.
- Lack of consent (patient opposition to the use of clinical data for research).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Cross-sectional area of peripheral nerves according to ganglionopathy etiology (genetic vs acquired)
Time frame: Baseline
Measurement of the cross-sectional area (mm²) of peripheral nerves on ultrasound (median nerve at forearm and arm, ulnar nerve at forearm and arm, sural nerve at ankle, radial sensory nerve at distal forearm, C5 and C6 roots at foraminal emergence, and vagus nerve at mid-cervical level) to compare nerve caliber between patients with genetic versus acquired sensory ganglionopathies
2 secondary outcomes
Correlation between nerve cross-sectional area and clinical severity
Time frame: Baseline
Correlation between nerve cross-sectional area and electrophysiological severity
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Jan 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Guillaume FARGEOT, MD principal investigator
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Sensory Neuronopathy, run by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris.
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 3 inclusion and 2 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Guillaume FARGEOT, MD (00 33 1 42 21 60 02, guillaume.fargeot@aphp.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Cross-sectional area of peripheral nerves according to ganglionopathy etiology (genetic vs acquired) (time frame: Baseline). 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 26 Jan 2026.