Intermittent Low Oxygen Breathing: A First Study Testing Different Disease Stages in People Living With MS (LOxyMS)

June 2, 2026 updated by: Katherine Knox, University of Saskatchewan

Intermittent Low Oxygen Breathing: A First Study Testing Different Disease Stages in People Living With Multiple Sclerosis

This study will look at the safety, tolerability and feasibility of a non-invasive treatment called Acute Intermittent Hypoxia (AIH) in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at different stages of the disease course.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

AIH is a treatment where people breathe reduced amounts of oxygen (10% oxygen) for a short period of time alternating with normal oxygen levels (21%) through a facemask that is attached to an oxygen tank with 10% 02. Participants will undergo 6 AIH treatment sessions over 3-4 weeks.

AIH will be administered to 3 unique groups of people: 1) People with advanced MS disability who are no longer ambulatory, 2) People who experienced a disabling relapse within the past 4 weeks and 3) People with non-active, progressive MS who retain some ambulatory ability.

There will be one baseline and two post-treatment assessments (1 and 5 weeks following the last AIH session).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

9

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

-

Group 1:

  • People with a confirmed diagnosis of MS and advanced disability level (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) >6.5 and <9)
  • Without relapse for at least 90 days prior
  • Older than age 18

Group 2:

  • People with a confirmed diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS
  • Acute disabling relapse onset within the past 4 weeks. A disabling relapse will be defined as at least 1.0-point increase on the EDSS.
  • Older than age 18

Group 3:

  • People with a confirmed diagnosis of MS that is non-active and progressive (Primary or Secondary Progressive MS). Non-active will be defined as without MS relapse, new/enlarging or enhancing MRI lesions within the past 1 year.
  • EDSS <=6.5
  • Older than age 18

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy
  • Any of the following documented respiratory disorders: obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, uncontrolled asthma, hypoxic pulmonary disease, respiratory infection in the previous 3 months
  • Ischemic cardiac disease
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Severe hypertension (>160/100)
  • Seizure disorders
  • Medically unstable in another capacity
  • Unable to provide informed consent

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

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Treatment
Acute Intermittent Hypoxia
Other: Acute Intermittent Hypoxia
Hypoxia (10% O2) will be administered via a non-rebreather face mask connected to an oxygen tank supplying the 10% O2. Each session will involve 15 cycles of hypoxia, each lasting 90 seconds, interspersed with 60 second cycles of normoxia. The total duration of each session will be approximately 37 minutes. An inline oxygen analyzer will allow recording of the percentage of oxygen being delivered. A fingertip pulse-oximeter will be worn throughout to ensure that oxygen saturation (SpO2) falls to a nadir between 80 - 87% during hypoxic episodes and heart rate monitoring will be performed. Blood pressure will be checked prior to and following each session (within 5 minutes of treatment cessation).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
SpO2 < 78%, Heart rate < 50 beats per minute (bpm) or > 160 bpm
Time Frame: During the six AIH treatment session in weeks 1-4
Number of episodes of each outcome
During the six AIH treatment session in weeks 1-4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Worsening on a verbal response 9-Item subjective symptom checklist
Time Frame: During the six AIH treatment sessions in weeks 1-4
Symptom checklist to be administered during AIH treatments. Includes the following: Chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, neck pain, dizziness, arm pain (left side for cardiac symptoms), sweatiness/feeling warm, sensory changes and increased weakness.
During the six AIH treatment sessions in weeks 1-4
Functional testing 1: Nine-Hole Peg test
Time Frame: Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
A test of hand function and dexterity
Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
Functional testing 2: Symbol Digit Modalities Test
Time Frame: Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
A cognitive test of processing speed
Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
Functional testing 3: Timed 25-Foot walk test
Time Frame: Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
A test of gait
Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
Patient Reported Symptom Outcomes 1: Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29)
Time Frame: Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
An assessment of how MS impacts a person's function
Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
Patient Reported Symptom Outcomes 2: Modified Fatigue Impact Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
An assessment of how fatigue impacts a person's function
Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Time Frame: Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session
TMS uses a magnetic coil placed over the scalp to stimulate cortical neurons on the surface of the brain to elicit a motor evoked potential (MEP). The amount of stimulator output required to obtain a MEP is an indicator of the level of excitability of the neurons; lower threshold indicating greater excitability AIH may decrease inhibition and increase excitation; mechanisms necessary when recovering from neurological injuries.
Baseline, 1- and 5- weeks after the final AIH treatment session

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Saskatchewan

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 (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 2, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Bio 4476
  • LOxyMS USASK -0924 (Other Identifier: University of Saskatchewan)

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

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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