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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00386464

Noninvasive Ventilation in ALS Patients With Mild Respiratory Involvement

Non-invasive ventilation or BiPAP®, which is a form of breathing support delivered through a facemask, is a successful treatment for the respiratory complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It has been shown to prolong survival, improve quality of life, and improve cognitive function. It is widely used among patients with ALS who have advanced breathing difficulties. It is not known whether there is benefit to using non-invasive ventilation earlier in the disease course.

There is evidence that non-invasive ventilation may slow down the decline in breathing function. If this were true then it would make sense to start non-invasive ventilation use earlier than the current clinically accepted practices.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether using non-invasive ventilation early in the course of disease can slow the decline in breathing function.

Patients remain in the study for 6 months and are asked to make 7 clinic visits during which time they will undergo pulmonary function tests and complete questionnaires.

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Key information

Conditions

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Central Nervous System Diseases Metabolic Diseases Motor Neuron Disease Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Proteostasis Deficiencies Spinal Cord Diseases TDP-43 Proteinopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2 / Phase 3

Primary location

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States

About this study

This is a randomized, crossover trial for patient with ALS and mild respiratory involvement. Patients with forced vital capacity above 60% of the predicted value can join. Patients will be assigned to either start using non-invasive ventilation at night or continue their usual care. After three months, patients will switch over to the other treatment group. For example, a patient who was initially assigned to continue their usual care would begin using non-invasive ventilation after three months.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Probable or definite ALS by El Escorial criteria
  • age >17 years
  • FVC >60
  • minimal respiratory symptoms (no orthopnea or dyspnea at rest)
  • ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of another neurodegenerative disease
  • arterial CO2 above 45 mmHg
  • O2 below 60 mmHg
  • coexisting chronic lung disease unrelated to ALS
  • presence of an unstable medical condition such as coronary artery disease, liver failure, renal failure or cancer in the 30 days preceding enrollment

Treatment and study plan

Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

Device

Primary outcomes

  1. Decline in forced vital capacity

Secondary outcomes

  1. quality of life

  2. respiratory quality of life

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2002
Study completion
2007
First posted
Oct 11, 2006
Registry last updated
Nov 9, 2007

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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