Serum Neurofilaments and GFAP in Atypical Multiple Sclerosis

NCT ID: NCT04201470

Last Updated: 2025-09-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 58 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-12-09
• Study Completion Date: 2022-05-23

Brief Summary

Idiopathic inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system include various disorders of which multiple sclerosis is the most common. Besides multiple sclerosis, other distinct disorders including for example anti-AQP4 (aquaporine-4) and anti-MOG (Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) NMOSD (Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder) have been well characterized and are now known to be distinct from MS.

some patient belonging to MS spectrum have recently being characterized but unusual MRI findings have mimicking inherited leukoencephalopathies and leukodystrophies.

Whether these patients with atypical phenotype represent a separate disease distinct from MS or belong to MS spectrum is not clear.

The objectives are to evaluate a series of 15 patients with atypical forms of MS using non-conventional MRI techniques and biological biomarkers (serum neurofilaments light chain) and to compare them with classical MS patients (15 relapsing remitting patients and 15 progressive patients) and 15 controls. the hypothesize is that these patients with atypical MS have a more severe neurodegenerative process.

Conditions

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis; Progressive Multiple Sclerosis; Controls; Multiple Sclerosis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

MS patients

Patients with atypical MS identified in our cohort

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Blood withdrawal

Intervention Type: OTHER

Measurement of serum neurofilaments light chain and GFAP

MRI

Intervention Type: OTHER

Cervical and cerebral MRI without contrast injection

Neurologic / neuropsychologic tests - Patients

Intervention Type: OTHER

EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), NHPT (Nine Hole Peg Test), T25FW (Timed 25-Foot Walk Test), 6MWT (Six-Minute Walk Test), CSCT (Computerized version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test)

Controls

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Blood withdrawal

Intervention Type: OTHER

Measurement of serum neurofilaments light chain and GFAP

MRI

Intervention Type: OTHER

Cervical and cerebral MRI without contrast injection

Neurologic / neuropsychologic tests - Controls

Intervention Type: OTHER

NHPT, T25FW, CSCT

Interventions

Blood withdrawal

Measurement of serum neurofilaments light chain and GFAP

Intervention Type: OTHER

MRI

Cervical and cerebral MRI without contrast injection

Intervention Type: OTHER

Neurologic / neuropsychologic tests - Patients

EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), NHPT (Nine Hole Peg Test), T25FW (Timed 25-Foot Walk Test), 6MWT (Six-Minute Walk Test), CSCT (Computerized version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Neurologic / neuropsychologic tests - Controls

NHPT, T25FW, CSCT

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• The subject must have given his informed consent and signed the consent form (if patient is protected by the law due to the study pathology, the consent will be signed his tutor or guardian ; if patient is unable to read or sign the consent form due to the study pathology, the consent will be signed by his family/trusted person)
• The subject is at least 18 years old (≥).
• Affiliate or beneficiary of a social security scheme

• Patients with atypical form of MS
• OR patients with RRMS (Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis)
• OR patients with PPMS (Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis)

(Patients will be matched on EDSS score (+/-1) and age (+/-5) ; Controls will be matched with patients on age)

• Subject presenting or having had a history of severe group 2 or 3 head trauma according to the Masters classification
• Patient receiving high dose corticosteroid therapy in the 3 months prior to inclusion in the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Vulnerable people.
• Simultaneous participation in any other research protocol.
• Contraindication to the realization of an MRI (ferromagnetic ocular or cerebral foreign bodies close to nerve structures, pace-maker, cochlear implants)
• Claustrophobic subject
• Subject presenting a neurodegenerative disease (Parkinson, Alzheimer ...)
• Subject presenting psychiatric disorders like psychosis, excluding anxio-depressive episode
• Subject presenting a systemic pathology with neurological manifestation

• Patient who is taking, or who has taken in the last year, one of the following treatments: Fingolimod, or any Monoclonal Antibody (Natalizumab, Rituximab, Ocrelizumab, Alemtuzumab ...)
• Patient having had an outbreak of the disease in the 3 months prior to inclusion in the study

• Subjects who are protected or unable to give their consent
• Subject with anterior or progressive neurological pathology
• Patient being treated or having taken any Monoclonal Antibody
• In the period of exclusion relating to another protocol or for which the annual amount of the maximum indemnities of 4500 € has been reached

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University Hospital, Montpellier

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

CHU Montpellier

Montpellier, , France

Countries

France

Other Identifiers

RECHMPL17_0381

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id