Acute Intermittent Hypoxia and Breathing in Neuromuscular Disease

NCT ID: NCT03645031

Last Updated: 2025-05-15

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

29 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-10-01

Study Completion Date

2023-06-02

Brief Summary

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This project seeks to investigate the effects of a single acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) session on respiratory and non-respiratory motor function and EMG (electromyography) activity on patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and healthy controls.

Detailed Description

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Most ALS patients survive less than 5 years after diagnosis, and the main cause of death is respiratory failure. The investigators are interested in the therapeutic potential of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) for individuals with neuromuscular diseases, such as ALS. More than two decades of research indicates AIH elicits meaningful respiratory and non-respiratory motor recovery. Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) consists of alternating periods of breathing mildly hypoxic (lowered oxygen concentration) and normoxic (normal oxygen concentration) air.

The investigators propose to study mechanisms of respiratory plasticity associated with a single presentation of mild AIH. The fundamental hypothesis guiding this proposal is that even a single AIH trial improves respiratory (and non-respiratory) motor function in ALS patients procedure. Participants will then be asked to breathe air with reduced oxygen for short periods of time, for a duration of 45 minutes. The activity of your muscles and your heart function will be monitored throughout the procedure.

Conditions

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Neuromuscular Diseases

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Participants will complete both the AIH and the sham AIH visits. The order of these visits will be randomized, but all subjects will complete both visits in the course of the study.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
Participants will be blind to the order of the AIH/sham AIH visits, but this information will be provided to the participant after completion of last visit.

Study Groups

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ALS Group

Participants will complete a single 45 minute session of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH), as well as, the 45 minute sham AIH session, consisting of breathing air with normal oxygen levels. Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after both procedures.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acute Intermittent Hypoxia

Intervention Type OTHER

AIH entails continuous breathing as the level of oxygen in the air is decreased, then returned to normal. Participants will alternate between breathing normal air and breathing hypoxic air (air that has less oxygen). Participants will complete a single 45 minute session of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH). Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure. The intervals will last 1 minute each.

Sham Acute Intermittent Hypoxia

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will complete the sham acute intermittent hypoxia, consisting of a single 45 minute session of breathing air with normal oxygen levels. All aspects of this procedure will otherwise be the same as for the AIH procedure. Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure.

Healthy Control Group

Participants will complete a single 45 minute session of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH), as well as, the 45 minute sham AIH session, consisting of breathing air with normal oxygen levels. Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after both procedures.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acute Intermittent Hypoxia

Intervention Type OTHER

AIH entails continuous breathing as the level of oxygen in the air is decreased, then returned to normal. Participants will alternate between breathing normal air and breathing hypoxic air (air that has less oxygen). Participants will complete a single 45 minute session of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH). Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure. The intervals will last 1 minute each.

Sham Acute Intermittent Hypoxia

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will complete the sham acute intermittent hypoxia, consisting of a single 45 minute session of breathing air with normal oxygen levels. All aspects of this procedure will otherwise be the same as for the AIH procedure. Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure.

Interventions

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Acute Intermittent Hypoxia

AIH entails continuous breathing as the level of oxygen in the air is decreased, then returned to normal. Participants will alternate between breathing normal air and breathing hypoxic air (air that has less oxygen). Participants will complete a single 45 minute session of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH). Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure. The intervals will last 1 minute each.

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham Acute Intermittent Hypoxia

Participants will complete the sham acute intermittent hypoxia, consisting of a single 45 minute session of breathing air with normal oxygen levels. All aspects of this procedure will otherwise be the same as for the AIH procedure. Breathing, muscle activity and heart activity will be monitored before, during and after the procedure.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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AIH Sham AIH

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* a healthy adult
* clinical diagnosis of ALS
* baseline FVC \>60% predicted for age, sex and height.

Exclusion Criteria

* pregnant
* diagnosed cardiovascular disease
* a BMI \>35 kg/m2
* currently take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
* history of seizures
* history of hospitalization for sepsis
* respiratory infection or took antibiotic medications within the past 4 weeks
* use external respiratory support during any waking hours
* participate in a pharmaceutical trial to treat ALS
* have any other medical condition the PI or medical director identify would make it unsuitable to participate.
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Florida

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Barbara K Smith, PT, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Florida

Locations

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UF Clinical Research Center

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Site Status

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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OCR18018

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

IRB201801131

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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