Title

Electrical Impedance Myography as an Outcome Measure in ALS Clinical Trials

Short name

EIM

Principal Investigator

Seward Rutkove, MD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)

Site-PI

Michael Benatar, MD, PhD

Summary

This is a longitudinal study designed to assess whether electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a useful measure of disease progression in ALS. EIM is a painless and non-invasive technique that can be used to quantify the biophysical properties of muscle. The study will involve several visits to a study center for serial evaluations. If successful, this study will demonstrate that the use of EIM as an outcome measure would make it possible to complete clinical trials in a shorter period of time and require participation of a small number of people.

Eligibility criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
  
• Definite or probable ALS, sporadic or familial
  
• MRC grade 3/5 or above in at least one limb
  
• FVC > 70% predicted

Funding agency

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association

Collaborators

Jeremy Shefner, MD, PhD (SUNY Upstate Medical University)
Ted Burns, MD (University of Virginia)
Jim Caress, MD (Wake Forrest University)
Khema Sharma, MD (University of Miami)
Nicholas Maragakis, MD, PhD (Johns Hopkins University)

Research Coordinator

Eliana Reyes, B.A.

Contact information

Email:
Phone: 1-888-413-9315

Link(s)

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00620698?term=benatar&rank=7

Publications

Presentations and Lectures

Lu D, Rutkove S, Gronka S, Spieker A, Usher S, Wuu J, Andersen P, Benatar M. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) findings in pre-symptomatic SOD1+ subjects. Platform presentation at the 9th Annual Northeast ALS Consortium Meeting, Washington, DC, Oct 27-29, 2010

Electrical Impedance Myography as a Pre-Symptomatic Biomarker of ALS. Poster presentation by Sharon Usher at the 20th International Symposium on ALS/MND Meeting, Berlin, December 2009