Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE) in Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

The Role of Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE) in Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

The primary objective of this research protocol is to study and follow the course of motor neuron loss in individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) using the electrophysiological technique of motor unit number estimation (MUNE). This study is based on the hypothesis that the electrophysiological technique of motor unit number estimation (MUNE) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) provide sensitive indicators to assess the severity and progression of disease in adults with SMA.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Detailed Description

This is a prospective pilot study to determine MUNE and CMAP values in a population of adults with SMA, assess how these electrophysiologic parameters change over time, and explore how well these parameters correlates with other outcome measures in SMA, including functional scales (SMAFRS and SF-36) and muscle strength (by MMT, MVICT, 6 minute walk test, time to climb 4 stairs and handheld myometry). The study was started in 2006 with 4 visits. It was initially intended to measure baseline and variability of values at baseline, 6 months, 10-14 months, and 20-24 months to better characterize the disease and to validate measurements as suitable outcome measures to be used in future therapeutic trials on adults. Individuals who do not take nusinersen would continue on this visit plan.

With the addition of the FDA approved drug nusinersen for SMA we would like to follow people who are receiving that treatment more frequently. The visits will fall in relationship to their treatment doses. Those patients who are receiving nusinersen will come in at a baseline visit that will be1 to 6 weeks prior to first treatment. Then they would follow-up one to 2.5 weeks after each treatment dosing that happens quarterly after the initial loading dose. There will be 10 visits over 3 years. The visits will occur at baseline, 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, and 34 months. These additional visits will allow for better uniform monitoring of the response to treatment and resubmission to insurance providers. Additional long term data will be collected from interested/available patients every 2-3 years up to a max of fifteen years. Being followed long term would add 4-6 visits over 12 years. If subjects completed the study course in the past and are now starting nusinersen (SPINRAZA), those individuals are able to enroll again.

A total of 100 people with SMA will be enrolled in this trial. This will allow for two cohorts of people with SMA; those receiving treatment and those not receiving treatment.

Control participants will only come to a baseline visit and the only tests that will be completed are the EMG Measures (MUNE, CMAP, decomposition EMG) and EIM. There will be no further testing for those participants. This visit will take approximately 30-60 minutes. A total of 40 control participants are being recruited for this study.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 140

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Julie Agriesti, MACPR, CCRC; Phone Number: 614-685-5815; Email: Julie.Agriesti@osumc.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Sarah Heintzman, RN; Phone Number: 614-293-4973; Email: Sarah.Heintzman@osumc.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
      • The Ohio State University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 17 years to 70 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals between 17-70 years of age who have been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) regardless of current medical intervention (e.g., Spinraza).

The control group will consist primarily of (but not restricted to) family members of those enrolled in the study who have a diagnosis of SMA.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. Adults age 17 to 70 with SMA type 2 or 3. The diagnosis of SMA must be documented by the homozygous deletion of both SMN1 genes on standard genetic tests for the disorder, and the determination of type 2 SMA by history of ability to maintain a sitting position when placed, or type 3 by the ability to stand and walk independently. Wheelchair mobile patients will not be excluded from the study.

  2. Interest in participating and the ability to travel to the study site on an agreed upon date on four occasions over a total interval of twenty-four months.

  3. Be in good health with the exception of SMA. Assessments will be rescheduled for a later date in the event of any intercurrent illness that might affect performance on the assessment.

Inclusion criteria for control subjects:

1. Healthy adults age 17 to 70
2. Interest in participating and the ability to travel to the study site

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients unable to tolerate the assessment by virtue of associated medical conditions, respiratory failure with ventilator dependence, or an obligatory need for orthotics that cannot be removed during the evaluation.

2. Patients who are, in the investigator's opinion, mentally or legally incapacitated, preventing informed consent, or is unable to read and understand written material including the consent 3. Patients with a pacemaker or cardiac device

Exclusion criteria for control subjects:

1. Subjects with any neurological disorder
2. Subjects with chronic medical illness that will interfere with their ability to tolerate the study
3. Subjects who are, in the investigator's opinion, mentally or legally incapacitated, preventing informed consent, or is unable to read and understand written material including the consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
SMA cohort; Individuals who have a diagnosis of SMA who are NOT receiving Spinraza (nusinersen).
SMA Spinraza cohort; Individuals who have a diagnosis of SMA who are receiving Spinraza (nusinersen).
Control cohort; Control participants will only come to a baseline visit and the only tests that will be completed are the EMG Measures (MUNE, CMAP, decomposition EMG) and EIM. There will be no further testing for those participants. This visit will take approximately 30-60 minutes. A total of 40 control participants are being recruited for this study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
MUNE	The primary objective of this proposal is to study and follow the course of motor neuron loss in adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) using the electrophysiological technique of motor unit number estimation (MUNE). This study is based on the hypothesis that the electrophysiological technique of motor unit number estimation (MUNE) can provide sensitive indicator data to assess the severity and progression of disease in adults with SMA.	up to 15 years
CMAP	The primary objective of this proposal is to study and follow the course of motor neuron loss in adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) using the electrophysiological technique of compound muscle action potential (CMAP). This study is based on the hypothesis that the electrophysiological technique of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) can provide sensitive indicator data to assess the severity and progression of disease in adults with SMA.	up to 15 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
EIM	Secondary Objective is to see if electrical impedance myography (EIM) correlates to the electrophysiological testing (see Primary Outcome measures: MUNE and CMAP).	up to 15 years
Nusinersen	Explore the changes in outcome measures in patients treated with nusinersen	up to 15 years
Treatment insurance approval and safety	Explore the insurance approval process, patient acceptance, and side effects of the newly approved FDA treatment of nusinersen.	up to 15 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ohio State University
• Collaborators: Cure SMA
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Bakri Elsheikh, MD, Ohio State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 10, 2018
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 23, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 23, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): October 25, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 2, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Spinraza; nusinersen; MUNE; CMAP
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neuromuscular Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Spinal Cord Diseases; Motor Neuron Disease; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2006H0207

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes