The Effect of Rituximab on Cognitive and Hand Functions in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Recruiting now · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to know if rituximab can improve cognitive and hand functions in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients with high disability (EDSS 6.5 or more). The main questions it aims to answer are: Can rituximab improve cognitive and hand functions in SPMS patients? Can rituximab improve the quality of life and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in SPMS patients? Researchers will compare patients who receive rituximab to patient who receive placebo to see the effects of rituximab on cognition, hand functions, quality of life and EDSS. Demographic and clinical data as age, gender, disease duration and EDSS will be obtained from each participant. Participants will perform The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), The Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) and The MS-QLQ27 questionnaire at baseline and after one year of receiving either rituximab or placebo.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06599307

Run by

Cairo University

People needed

46

Starts

2024-08-01

Expected to finish

2026-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-18

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Diagnosis of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis by Lorscheider et al's criteria (disability progression by 1 EDSS step in patients with EDSS ≤ 5.5 or 0.5 EDSS step in patients with EDSS ≥ 6 in the absence of a relapse, a minimum EDSS score of 4 and pyramidal functional system (FS) score of 2 and confirmed progression over ≥3 months, including confirmation within the leading FS).
• Baseline EDSS ≥ 6.5.

You may not qualify if…

• Patients received disease modifying therapy for SPMS other than rituximab.
• Clinical relapse in the last 3 months before recruitment.
• Patients with documented hypersensitivity or contraindication to rituximab.
• Patients with concomitant neurologic conditions that may affect cognitive or hand functions.

Where it is running

• Kasr Alainy Multiple Sclerosis Unit (KAMSU), Cairo University hospitals. — Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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