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NCT Number: NCT06157268

The Natural History and Muscle Fatigability of Patients With Congenital Myopathies.

Core myopathies (CCD/MmD), nemaline myopathies (NEM) and centronuclear myopathies (CNM) are three types of rare congenital myopathies. Not much is known about the natural history and no curative treatment is available for these groups. Also patients report fatigability as one of their symptoms. The goal of this observational study is to study the natural history during 24 months to achieve trial readiness and to study the muscle fatigability in CCD/MmD, NEM and CNM.

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Key information

About this study

Rationale: Patients with CCD/MmD, NEM and CNM report symptoms of weakness in the arms and legs. Other symptoms include weakness of the respiratory, facial and swallowing muscles. No treatments are available for congenital myopathies (CM) to slow down or cure the disease. A few type I-II trials have taken place and more are expected. Therefore it is important to reach trial readiness. To create trial readiness, there is a need for natural history study to create a detailed report of the disease course and a selection of the most sensitive clinical and functional outcome measures and biomarkers. Besides muscle weakness, several patients report muscle fatigability. This has not been investigated systematically in CM. The lack of evidence calls for a cross-sectional study assessing muscle fatigability and neuromuscular transmission in CM.

Objectives: i) To assess the natural disease course of CCD/MmD, NEM and CNM during 24 months. ii) To select relevant and sensitive clinical and functional outcome measures and biomarkers. iii) To assess the severity of muscle fatigability in CCD/MmD, NEM and CNM.

Study design: Patients with a genetically confirmed CCD/MmD, NEM or CNM will be able to participate in this study. The study consist of 2 parts. Part 1: a prospective cohort study with 5 visits every 6 months, for a total of 2 years. 45 patients will be included for this part. Part 2: an observational study with 2 visits. For this part 75 patients will be included. There will be an overlap in patients for the two parts. So a total of approximately 100 patients will be included. A large set of tests will be performed to assess the full capabilities of the patient, e.g. muscle strength/endurance, muscle imaging (MRI/ultrasound), activities, walking ability, quality of life, muscle fatigability and the feeling of fatigue.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

for the natural history:

  • 2 years or older
  • Willing and able to complete the measurement protocol
  • Willing and able to travel to Nijmegen and Utrecht
  • Dutch-speaking
  • Genetically-confirmed congenital myopathy (CCD/MmD, NEM, and CNM)

Inclusion criteria

for the fatigability study:

  • 8-60 years old
  • Willing and able to complete the measurement protocol
  • Willing and able to travel to Nijmegen and Utrecht
  • Dutch-speaking
  • Genetically-confirmed congenital myopathy (CCD/MmD, NEM, and CNM)
  • Willing to stop taking pyridostigmine and/or salbutamol 24 hours before the visit.

Exclusion criteria

for both parts:

Other neuromuscular, psychiatric or neurological disorders.

Treatment and study plan

Natural history and non therapeutical therapy

Other

This study concerns a natural history study part and a muscle fatigability part.

For the natural history study no interventions will be used. For the muscle fatigability part non therapeutical therapies will be used. This includes endurance tests, isokinetic dynamometry and repetitive nerve stimulation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change of Motor Function Measure (MFM)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Global motor functioning. The main outcome is the change in MFM score over a period of 2 years. The scores of the patients will also be compared to reference values.

  2. Endurance shuttle test - fatigability part

    Time frame: At assessment 1 or 2 of the fatigability part of the study. Which day is dependent on the preference of the patient and planning possibilities.

    Patients walk/move blocks/move pegs at a personalised set speed. The main outcome is if the patient drops out due to the speed being too low. If the patient drops out the time until dropout is noted.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change of 6-minute walk test (6MWT) (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    How far the patient can walk in 6 minutes. The first and last minute will be compared to each other.

  2. Accelerometry - change of extent and intensity of physical activity in daily life (all ages)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Physical activity in daily life will be assessed by wearing an wrist worn accelerometer (GENEActiv original devices) for 7 days.

  3. Change of bone density (DEXA scan) (6 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 24 months

    The bone density of the spine and hip will be measured by a DEXA scan.

  4. Change of graded and timed rise from floor (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The time it takes to rise from the floor

  5. Handheld dynamometry (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Maximal voluntary isometric contraction will be measured by handheld dynamometry (m. biceps brachii, m. quadriceps, grip strength, all bilaterally)

  6. Creatine Kinase

    Time frame: At baseline

    Blood level of Creatine Kinase

  7. Vitamin D3

    Time frame: At baseline

    Blood level of Vitamin D3

  8. Calcium

    Time frame: At baseline

    Blood level of calcium

  9. Liver function panel

    Time frame: At baseline

    Blood level of bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase GGT, albumin, bile acids and full blood count.

  10. Manual muscle testing (MMT) (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Muscle power of individual muscle groups can be assessed by muscle power measurements and graded in correspondence with the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale.

  11. Change in muscle fattening by quantitative lower extremity muscle MRI (10 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 24 months

    A lower extremity muscle MRI will be performed in participants who are able to lie supine and still for 20 minutes and who are not dependent on respiratory equipment. Muscle fattening will be assessed by Regions of Interest (ROIs) (quantitative) and modified Mercuri score (semi-quantitative).

  12. Change of muscle atrophy by quantitative lower extremity muscle MRI (10 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 24 months

    A lower extremity muscle MRI will be performed in participants who are able to lie supine and still for 20 minutes and who are not dependent on respiratory equipment. Atrophy will be assessed by muscle volume score (semi-quantitative).

  13. Change in muscle atrophy (cm) assessed by muscle ultrasound (all ages)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 24 months

    Muscle atrophy of the leg, arm, back, abdominal muscles and diaphragm will be assessed by muscle ultrasound.

  14. Change in muscle fattening (echo-intensity) assessed by muscle ultrasound (all ages)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 24 months

    Muscle fattening of the leg, arm, back, abdominal muscles and diaphragm will be assessed by muscle ultrasound.

  15. Range of motion (all ages)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The range of motion of the elbows, fingers, knees and ankles is noted bilaterally by goniometry.

  16. Pulmonary function - change of forced vital capacity (percentage predicted) (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Obtained with handheld spirometry in sit and supine.

  17. Pulmonary function - change of forced expiratory volume in the first second (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Obtained with handheld spirometry in sit and supine.

  18. Pulmonary function - change of maximal expiratory pressure (cmH2O) (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Obtained with handheld device.

  19. Pulmonary function - change of maximal inspiratory pressure (cmH2O) (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Obtained with handheld device.

  20. Pulmonary function - change of sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Obtained with handheld device.

  21. Vignos and Brooke scale (all ages)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The Brooke (score 1-6) and Vignos (score 1-10) scales provide ordinal data to assess the upper and lower extremity functions. A lower score indicates more functionality.

  22. Isokinetic dynamometry (quadriceps and hamstrings or biceps and triceps) (8-60 years old) - fatigability part

    Time frame: At assessment 1 or 2 of the fatigability part of the study. Which day is dependent on the preference of the patient and planning possibilities.

    Peak torque, time to peak torque, change in torque from first third to last third, acceleration time and deceleration time for 3, 5 and 30 repetitions at a set speed. For the 30 repetitions how many repetitions until failure is also noted.

  23. Change in surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude and median frequency during isokinetic dynamometry with surface EMG (quadriceps and hamstrings or biceps and triceps) (8-60 years old) - fatigability part

    Time frame: At assessment 1 or 2 of the fatigability part of the study. Which day is dependent on the preference of the patient and planning possibilities.

    On the quadriceps/hamstrings or biceps/triceps surface EMG amplitude and median frequency will be measured.

  24. Repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) (8-60 years old) - fatigability part

    Time frame: At assessment 1 or 2 of the fatigability part of the study. Which day is dependent on the preference of the patient and planning possibilities.

    We will stimulate the n. ulnaris, n. accesorius and n. facialis at 3 Hz to measure the m abductor digiti minimi, m. trapezius and m nasalis. The decrement/increment will be determined by the compound muscle action potential amplitude and area.

    The RNS will be performed before and after 60 seconds of voluntary contraction.

  25. Checklist individual strength (CIS) questionnaire fatigue subscale (18 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The CIS is a questionnaire rating four subscales: subjective tiredness, concentration, motivation and physical activity. It consists of 20 items on a 7-point scale. We will use the Fatigue subscale. A CIS fatigue scale ≥ 35 points to severe fatigue.

  26. Fatigue severity scale questionnaire (12 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Nine-questions scale about the impact of fatigue on the patient's life. Each item is scored on a 7 point scale. A higher score indicates greater fatigue/greater impact of fatigue on daily life.

  27. PedsQL multidimensional fatigue scale (MFS) (2-17 years old)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The PedsQL MFS assesses subjective fatigue in three domains with 6 items each, namely General Fatigue Scale, Sleep/Rest Fatigue Scale, and Cognitive Fatigue Scale. Each item is scored on a three point scale ranging from not at all to a lot for children aged 5-7 and a five point scale from never to almost always for the others. Higher scores indicates less symptoms.

  28. PROMIS Fatigue Short Form questionnaire (all ages)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Consists of 8 items representing the most informative items from the PROMIS item bank. The PROMIS Fatigue item banks assess a range of self-reported symptoms, from mild subjective feelings of tiredness to an overwhelming, debilitating, and sustained sense of exhaustion that likely decreases one's ability to execute daily activities and function normally in family or social roles. For patients younger than 18 a parent proxy is also available. The items are scored form 1-5 with a higher score indicating more fatigue.

  29. McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) (12 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The MPQ consists of 4 components: a pain word list to state the type and intensity of the pain, questions about the effect on daily life, a visual-analogue scale for pain intensity and questions about the location and course of the pain.

  30. Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale (2-11 years old)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale was originally created for children to help them communicate about their pain. It has six types of faces ranging from no hurt (0) tot hurts worst (10).

  31. PedsQL generic quality of life (2-17 years old)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The PedsQL generic quality of life questionnaire consists of 8 items on physical functioning, 5 items on emotional functioning, 5 items on social functioning, and 5 items on school functioning. Each item is scored on a 0-4 scale. The items are reversed scored and linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale, so that higher scores indicate a better outcome.

  32. Short Form 36 (SF36) quality of life scale (18 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The adult Quality of Life is measured by the SF36/RAND36 questionnaire. The SF36/RAND36 addresses eight concepts: physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical health problems, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perceptions. It also includes a single item that provides an indication of perceived change in health. It has a total of 36 items.

  33. Activlim questionnaire (7-17 years old)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    ACTIVLIM assesses the ability to perform 22 activities of daily life on a 3-point scale from impossible to easy. The questionnaires will be answered by the parents of the patient.

  34. Impact on participation and autonomy (18 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Questionnaire about participation and autonomy in daily life with 41 questions on a ordinal 3- or 5-point likert scale. Higher scores indicate more obstacles in participation and autonomy.

  35. Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-P) (18 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    USER-P Restrictions scale is a patients-reported outcome measures with 32 questions focusing on daily activities including school and work. Each item is scored on a 4-, 5-, and 6-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates more participation.

  36. Borg rating scale of perceived exertion (5 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Borg Rating Scale of Perceived Exertion is a way of measuring physical activity intensity level. Perceived exertion is based on the physical sensations a person experiences during physical activity. It is scored 6-20 with a higher score indicating a greater perceived exertion.

    Participants will be asked to score the intensity level at the beginning and at the end of the 6MWT.

  37. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (18 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    Questionnaire about the main complaints of anxiety and depression with 7 items each on a 4-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates more complaints.

  38. PedsQL neuromuscular module (NMM) (2-17 years old)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    The PedsQL NMM questionnaire consists of 25 questions in three domains: Neuromuscular disease, communication and family resources. Each item is scored on a 0-4 scale. The items are reversed scored and linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale, so that higher scores indicate a better outcome.

  39. Resilience evaluation scale (18 years and older)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months

    9-Item questionnaire on psychological resilience with each item being scored from 0-4, higher scores indicating greater resilience.

  40. Effects of pyridostigmine and/or salbutamol (8-60 years old) - fatigability part

    Time frame: At baseline of the fatigability part of the study

    We will ask patients if they use pyridostigmine and/or salbutamol. If they use it we will ask how often, what the effects are and how long those effects last.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Nicol Voermans, MD PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+31650155770

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Radboud University Medical Center

Other

Collaborators

  • UMC Utrecht

Registry information

Official study title

Trial Readiness and Trial Fitness for Congenital Myopathies: a 2-year Prospective Natural History Study Including a Cross-sectional Study on Muscle Fatigability

Acronym: READYCOM

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Dec 5, 2023
Registry last updated
Aug 19, 2024

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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