Study and Treatment of Visual Dysfunction and Motor Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis (NCT02391961) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 2
Study and Treatment of Visual Dysfunction and Motor Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis
United States23 participantsStarted 2015-04-01
Plain-language summary
Primary fatigue represents a major cause of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), being reported in about 90% of cases. Fatigue interferes with everyday functioning but, unfortunately, little is known about its mechanisms. The investigators propose a characteristic eye movement abnormality (internuclear ophthalmoparesis, INO), commonly encountered in MS, as a simple model for primary motor fatigue. The investigators described worsening of ocular performance in MS patients with INO following visual tasks (ocular motor fatigue), which is likely due to decreased neural conduction along brain pathways injured by MS. This mechanism could represent a major component of MS-related primary motor fatigue. Relevant to Veterans' care, INO is a significant cause of visual disability, especially when complicated by ocular fatigue, and limits daily activities such as reading and driving. The investigators propose a medical treatment to improve ocular performance/fatigue in INO, which can reduce visual disability and improve quality of life in Veterans with MS.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Diagnosis of MS of any course and duration
* Evidence of mild to moderate internuclear ophthalmoparesis (INO), that is slowing of the adducting eye on physical examination of saccadic speed, whether INO is unilateral or bilateral, symmetrical or asymmetrical
* Medically stable conditions, ability to give informed consent and understand and cooperate with the testing
* Dalfampridine-naive as well as history of taking dalfampridine in the past, whether there was benefit in gait impairment or not, after a washout period of at least 2 weeks
Exclusion Criteria:
* Lack of evidence of INO (slowing of the adducting eye) on physical examination of saccadic speed
* Severe INO (i.e., exotropia in primary gaze) on physical examination
* Medically unstable conditions, inability to give informed consent and understand and cooperate with the testing
* History of side effects from dalfampridine
* History of seizures
* Moderate or severe renal failure, assessed by clearance of creatinine
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Pulse Size Ratio (PSR): Abducting/Adducting Eye Ratio for Saccadic Peak Velocity.
Timeframe: Average PSR values were taken on day of visit 2 (after 4 weeks) and on day of visit 4 (after 10 weeks), on each visit before (baseline) and three hours after taking the study pill.
2
Pulse Time Delay (PTD): Time Difference Between Onset of the Saccade in the Adducting Eye and Onset of the Saccade in the Abducting Eye.
Timeframe: Average PTD values were taken on day of visit 2 (after 4 weeks) and on day of visit 4 (after 10 weeks), on each visit before (baseline) and three hours after taking the study pill.