PET Imaging in ALS Patients

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

In brief

This is a pilot study to evaluate a potential imaging biomarker for aiding diagnosis and monitoring progression of ALS, based on a well established basic science pathway, published human autopsy data, preliminary data in ALS mutant mice, and our recently published data using brain PET scans to image the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR5) in healthy human volunteers.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02236897

Run by

Johns Hopkins University

People needed

36

Starts

2013-08-01

Expected to finish

2017-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-03-07

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Male or female ALS patients, ranging in age from 18-80.
• Must meet El Escorial Criteria for Probable or Definite ALS.
• Disease duration >1 year, but <3 years.
• Weakness in at least two extremities.
• Forced vital capacity less than 80% and greater than 50%.

You may not qualify if…

• Documented orthopnea or otherwise unable to lie flat in a PET scanner for 90 minutes.
• Presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, shrapnel, or other implanted metallic devices that would preclude an MRI scan.
• Absence of sufficient collateral arterial circulation for radial arterial line placement in both wrists.
• Significant abnormalities of hepatic or renal function, or illicit substance use.
• Positive drug screen. (Subjects currently taking prescribed narcotic medication who have a positive drug screen for this medication will not be excluded. Medication history will be obtained during screening).
• Weighs > 350 lbs.

Where it is running

• Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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