Amantadine and Functional Improvement Following ABI Measured by MRI Tractography; A Pilot Study

December 10, 2015 updated by: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Mechanism of Amantadine and Functional Improvement Following Acquired Brain Injury as Measured by MRI Tractography; A Pilot Study

This is a pilot study. The objective is to further understand the mechanism by which amantadine improves function in patients with persistent vegetative state and minimally conscious state. Specifically, the investigators will measure the size of the nerve fibers that mediate arousal (reticular activating system, or RAS) pre and post treatment on MRI tractography. MRI findings will be correlated with the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) score. The information gathered from this study will be used to formulate a larger clinical trial.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Primary Aim:

To determine the size of the RAS tracts as measured by MRI tractography. Specifically, the investigators will be measuring the fiber tracts that project through the posterior thalamus. The RAS is involved in mediating arousal and consciousness. The size of fiber tracts will be measured prior to initiating treatment and near the time of discharge from the rehabilitation hospital or at approximately ninety-days. It is hypothesized that treatment will result in an increase in the size of these fiber tracts.

As a pilot study, the investigators will be determining the feasibility of recruiting and retaining patients in this type of study. This will allow the clarification and understanding of the technical standards for MRI tractography related to the assessment of the reticular activating system.

Secondary Aim:

To determine and monitor changes in function following acquired brain injury as measured by the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) score. The DRS score will be obtained prior to initiating treatment and at termination of the study. It is hypothesized that treatment with amantadine in addition to standard medical treatment, will be associated with an improvement in function.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

10

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
        • Hamilton Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 years - 65 years
  • Nonpenetrating acquired brain injury (ABI)
  • Persistent vegetative or minimally conscious state (as indicated by DRS score greater than 11)
  • Consent from substitute decision maker

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindication to MRI (such as metal in the body, pacemaker, implanted nerve stimulator)
  • Anticipated neurosurgical intervention
  • Medical instability including uncontrolled hypertension, fever, or infection
  • Seizure disorder prior to acquired brain injury or uncontrolled seizures subsequent to acquired brain injury
  • Parkinson's disease
  • History of heart failure or pre-existing peripheral oedema
  • History of eczematoid dermatitis
  • History of angle-closure glaucoma
  • History of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
  • Current treatment with Amantadine
  • Impairment related to other neurologic disease other than ABI
  • Allergy to Amantadine
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Impairment of renal function (creatinine clearance less than 60ml/min)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Treatment and MRI scanning
After informed consent has been obtained, the subjects will be examined by a physician and assigned a Disability Ratings Scale (DRS) score. Subjects will undergo MRI tractography study, which does not require the administration of contrast. All participants will receive oral amantadine at escalating doses to ensure tolerance (50mg twice daily for 7 days, then 100mg twice daily for 1 week, then 150mg twice daily, then 200mg twice daily). The usual length of stay on the inpatient brain injury program is ninety days. The MRI tractography study and DRS score will be repeated near the time of discharge or ninety days from enrollment.
Drug: Amantadine
Participants will initially receive amantadine at the starting dose of 50mg twice daily either by mouth or feeding tube. The dosage will increase every week by 50mg twice daily (100mg total dose increase) up to the target dose of 200mg twice daily. These are the usual doses and rate of increase that are offered to patients with brain injury.
Other Names:
  • amantadine hydrochloride
Procedure: MRI Tractography Study
Participants will initially receive a baseline MRI Tractography scan. The size of RAS fiber tracts will be measured prior to initiating treatment and near the time of discharge from the rehabilitation hospital or at approximately ninety-days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Radiographic Changes
Time Frame: At baseline and ninety days or at time of discharge from hospital if occurs earlier.
MRI Tractography will be performed to measure the size the of reticular activating system fiber tracts. Specifically, the tracts that project through the posterior thalamus.
At baseline and ninety days or at time of discharge from hospital if occurs earlier.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Functional Improvement
Time Frame: At ninety days or at time of discharge from hospital if occurs earlier.
Disability Rating Scale Score (at enrolment and at completion of the study).
At ninety days or at time of discharge from hospital if occurs earlier.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Pankaj E Bansal, MD, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
  • Principal Investigator: Seyed Hosseini, MD, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2016

Study Completion (Anticipated)

June 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 23, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

October 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 11, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 10, 2015

Last Verified

December 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 0452

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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