Multiple SclerosisNCT00001248
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to Evaluate Activity of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
An observational study of Multiple Sclerosis, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Studies performed under 89-N-0045 are designed to examine the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) using MRI and immunological measures. In addition to studying the natural history of untreated patients, the natural history of patients receiving approved disease-modifying therapies of MS will be examined. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 120 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Multiple Sclerosis
- How many people
- 3,750 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 23 Jul 1992to not given
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 120 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: -MS/CIS/RIS population-Patients with a diagnosis of MS or who have typical imaging abnormalities associated with MS.-Non-MS comparison populations-Patients with disorders of the CNS, to include patients with diseases that share mechanisms of tissue damage with MS, such as mitochondrial disorders, leukodystrophies, neurodegenerative diseases that may cause axonal loss or oxidative stress, and chronic small vessel disease.-Healthy volunteers-Healthy volunteers for technique development and comparison with the patient populations.
Who may be able to join
- In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- One of the following:
- Affected participant with either a diagnosis of MS based on currently accepted diagnostic criteria, or imaging or clinical abnormalities associated with MS.
- Healthy volunteer.
- Age >=18
- Able to give informed consent.
Who cannot join
- An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
- Contraindication to MRI at the time of initial enrollment (with the exception of pregnancy).
- Unwilling to allow coded samples to be processed offsite or unwilling to have coded samples used in other studies.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR), 800-411-1222 ext. TTY dial 711, ccopr@nih.gov
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of Progression in Multiple Sclerosis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Studies performed under 89-N-0045 are designed to examine the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) using MRI and immunological measures. In addition to studying the natural history of untreated patients, the natural history of patients receiving approved disease-modifying therapies of MS will be examined. In both cohorts of patients levels of disease activity on MRI will be compared with immunological characteristics in order to help identify disease mechanism. Patients with either definite MS (based either on clinical or combined clinical and MRI criteria) or with an initial presentation of neurological dysfunction consistent with MS will be studied longitudinally by MRI. Disease activity on MRI will be assessed using several MRI measures of disease activity including the number of contrast enhancing lesions, the overall burden of disease, brain atrophy and measures to assess axonal damage. Patients will be assessed clinically and correlations between immunological and genetic factors and disease activity as seen clinically or by MRI will be studied.
A second cohort of patients starting the use of approved therapy will also be examined. Patients referred to NIH prior to beginning approved therapy will be assessed with a series of three monthly MRIs to determine the level of pretreatment disease activity. After beginning approved therapy under the direction of their private physician, patients will be followed similarly to the natural history cohort. Immunological and genetic findings will be accessed before and during therapy in order to help establish the mechanisms of action of the therapies and to identify mechanisms accounting for either a response or lack of response to therapy. Part of the collected samples willl be cryopreserved to provide respository for further studies focusing on detection of biomarkers indicative of disease state, disease stage or repsonse to therapies.
Additionally, a cohort of normal volunteers will be studied. The studies in the normal volunteers will be used to establish the most appropriate imaging sequences for studying normal white matter in MS patients using magnetization transfer (MT) imaging sequences for studying normal white matter in MS patients using magnetization transfer (MT) imaging and to provide normative immunological measures.
Read the detailed description
Study Description:
This study is primarily designed to examine the evolving natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its mimickers, viewed through the window of neuroimaging (especially magnetic resonance imaging or MRI). After required baseline evaluation, follow-up study timepoints are driven by clinical standard-of-care, and data from clinically driven procedures may be analyzed for research. Optional research procedures may also be performed during these visits. Optional research-only visits may be scheduled to further investigate findings from the clinical visits. The same research procedures may be performed in healthy volunteers to assess whether the research findings are specific to the affected participant group.
Objectives:
To describe the evolving natural history of MS, viewed clinically, radiologically, and biologically, both prior to and after the introduction of increasingly effective disease modifying therapies (DMT). The protocol has three other important objectives: (1) screening prospective participants for selected NINDS Neuroimmunology Clinic trials; (2) studying healthy volunteers for comparison with affected participants and for development of new experimental technologies; and (3) comparing MS to other neurological diseases that share imaging or clinical features.
Endpoints:
The primary endpoint is the rate of change in the number of new white matter lesions per participant, indexed by the date of baseline evaluation.
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Keywords
- Multiple Sclerosis, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Natural History
- Medical subject headings
- Multiple Sclerosis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| healthy volunteers | Healthy volunteers for technique development and comparison with the patient populations. | |
| MS/CIS/RIS population | Patients with a diagnosis of MS or who have typical imaging abnormalities associated with MS. | |
| Non-MS comparison population | Patients with disorders of the CNS, to include patients with diseases that share mechanisms of tissue damage with MS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
the rate of change in the number of new white matter lesions per participant
The primary outcome, which is designed to determine how MS disease activity has changed with the advent of ever-more-effective disease-modifying therapy, is the rate of change in the number of new white matter lesions per participant, indexed by the date of baseline evaluation.
Measured: baseline vs. follow up visits
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Study start23 Jul 1992
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Multiple SclerosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 3,750 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Daniel S Reich, M.D., Principal investigator, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00001248
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 890045
- Other IDs
- 89-N-0045
- Status last verified
- 22 Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Nov 1999
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This is a natural history, not a clinical trial, therefore we are not obligated to provide a data sharing statement.
Publications
Tresley RM, Stone LA, Fields N, Maloni H, McFarland H, Frank JA. Clinical safety of serial monthly administrations of gadopentetate dimeglumine in patients with multiple sclerosis: implications for natural history and early-phase treatment trials. Neurology. 1997 Apr;48(4):832-5. doi: 10.1212/wnl.48.4.832.
PubMed 9109864Calabresi PA, Stone LA, Bash CN, Frank JA, McFarland HF. Interferon beta results in immediate reduction of contrast-enhanced MRI lesions in multiple sclerosis patients followed by weekly MRI. Neurology. 1997 May;48(5):1446-8. doi: 10.1212/wnl.48.5.1446.
PubMed 9153489Calabresi PA, Tranquill LR, Dambrosia JM, Stone LA, Maloni H, Bash CN, Frank JA, McFarland HF. Increases in soluble VCAM-1 correlate with a decrease in MRI lesions in multiple sclerosis treated with interferon beta-1b. Ann Neurol. 1997 May;41(5):669-74. doi: 10.1002/ana.410410517.
PubMed 9153530Benjamin R, Qi YA, Hao Y, DeMarino C, Darko S, Cortese I, Reich DS, Gaitan MI, Jacobson S, Billioux BJ, Smith B, Nath A. Endothelial Cell Proteins as Biomarkers in Susac Syndrome. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2026 Aug 13. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70508. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42593056Al-Louzi O, Letchuman V, Manukyan S, Beck ES, Roy S, Ohayon J, Pham DL, Cortese I, Sati P, Reich DS. Central Vein Sign Profile of Newly Developing Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2022 Jan 13;9(2):e1120. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001120. Print 2022 Mar.
PubMed 35027474Absinta M, Sati P, Schindler M, Leibovitch EC, Ohayon J, Wu T, Meani A, Filippi M, Jacobson S, Cortese IC, Reich DS. Persistent 7-tesla phase rim predicts poor outcome in new multiple sclerosis patient lesions. J Clin Invest. 2016 Jul 1;126(7):2597-609. doi: 10.1172/JCI86198. Epub 2016 Jun 6.
PubMed 27270171
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of Progression in Multiple Sclerosis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00001248
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 890045
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Keywords
- Multiple Sclerosis, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Natural History
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 3,750 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 23 Jul 1992 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Studies performed under 89-N-0045 are designed to examine the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) using MRI and immunological measures. In addition to studying the natural history of untreated patients, the natural history of patients receiving approved disease-modifying therapies of MS will be examined. In both cohorts of patients levels of disease activity on MRI will be compared with immunological characteristics in order to help identify disease mechanism. Patients with either definite MS (based either on clinical or combined clinical and MRI criteria) or with an initial presentation of neurological dysfunction consistent with MS will be studied longitudinally by MRI. Disease activity on MRI will be assessed using several MRI measures of disease activity including the number of contrast enhancing lesions, the overall burden of disease, brain atrophy and measures to assess axonal damage. Patients will be assessed clinically and correlations between immunological and genetic factors and disease activity as seen clinically or by MRI will be studied.
A second cohort of patients starting the use of approved therapy will also be examined. Patients referred to NIH prior to beginning approved therapy will be assessed with a series of three monthly MRIs to determine the level of pretreatment disease activity. After beginning approved therapy under the direction of their private physician, patients will be followed similarly to the natural history cohort. Immunological and genetic findings will be accessed before and during therapy in order to help establish the mechanisms of action of the therapies and to identify mechanisms accounting for either a response or lack of response to therapy. Part of the collected samples willl be cryopreserved to provide respository for further studies focusing on detection of biomarkers indicative of disease state, disease stage or repsonse to therapies.
Additionally, a cohort of normal volunteers will be studied. The studies in the normal volunteers will be used to establish the most appropriate imaging sequences for studying normal white matter in MS patients using magnetization transfer (MT) imaging sequences for studying normal white matter in MS patients using magnetization transfer (MT) imaging and to provide normative immunological measures.
Detailed description
Study Description:
This study is primarily designed to examine the evolving natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its mimickers, viewed through the window of neuroimaging (especially magnetic resonance imaging or MRI). After required baseline evaluation, follow-up study timepoints are driven by clinical standard-of-care, and data from clinically driven procedures may be analyzed for research. Optional research procedures may also be performed during these visits. Optional research-only visits may be scheduled to further investigate findings from the clinical visits. The same research procedures may be performed in healthy volunteers to assess whether the research findings are specific to the affected participant group.
Objectives:
To describe the evolving natural history of MS, viewed clinically, radiologically, and biologically, both prior to and after the introduction of increasingly effective disease modifying therapies (DMT). The protocol has three other important objectives: (1) screening prospective participants for selected NINDS Neuroimmunology Clinic trials; (2) studying healthy volunteers for comparison with affected participants and for development of new experimental technologies; and (3) comparing MS to other neurological diseases that share imaging or clinical features.
Endpoints:
The primary endpoint is the rate of change in the number of new white matter lesions per participant, indexed by the date of baseline evaluation.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| healthy volunteers | – | –Healthy volunteers for technique development and comparison with the patient populations. |
| MS/CIS/RIS population | – | –Patients with a diagnosis of MS or who have typical imaging abnormalities associated with MS. |
| Non-MS comparison population | – | –Patients with disorders of the CNS, to include patients with diseases that share mechanisms of tissue damage with MS |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 120 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- -MS/CIS/RIS population-Patients with a diagnosis of MS or who have typical imaging abnormalities associated with MS.-Non-MS comparison populations-Patients with disorders of the CNS, to include patients with diseases that share mechanisms of tissue damage with MS, such as mitochondrial disorders, leukodystrophies, neurodegenerative diseases that may cause axonal loss or oxidative stress, and chronic small vessel disease.-Healthy volunteers-Healthy volunteers for technique development and comparison with the patient populations.
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- One of the following:
- Age >=18
- Able to give informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
- Contraindication to MRI at the time of initial enrollment (with the exception of pregnancy).
- Unwilling to allow coded samples to be processed offsite or unwilling to have coded samples used in other studies.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
the rate of change in the number of new white matter lesions per participant
Time frame: baseline vs. follow up visits
The primary outcome, which is designed to determine how MS disease activity has changed with the advent of ever-more-effective disease-modifying therapy, is the rate of change in the number of new white matter lesions per participant, indexed by the date of baseline evaluation.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 9109864Tresley RM, Stone LA, Fields N, Maloni H, McFarland H, Frank JA. Clinical safety of serial monthly administrations of gadopentetate dimeglumine in patients with multiple sclerosis: implications for natural history and early-phase treatment trials. Neurology. 1997 Apr;48(4):832-5. doi: 10.1212/wnl.48.4.832.
- Background: PubMed 9153489Calabresi PA, Stone LA, Bash CN, Frank JA, McFarland HF. Interferon beta results in immediate reduction of contrast-enhanced MRI lesions in multiple sclerosis patients followed by weekly MRI. Neurology. 1997 May;48(5):1446-8. doi: 10.1212/wnl.48.5.1446.
- Background: PubMed 9153530Calabresi PA, Tranquill LR, Dambrosia JM, Stone LA, Maloni H, Bash CN, Frank JA, McFarland HF. Increases in soluble VCAM-1 correlate with a decrease in MRI lesions in multiple sclerosis treated with interferon beta-1b. Ann Neurol. 1997 May;41(5):669-74. doi: 10.1002/ana.410410517.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42593056Benjamin R, Qi YA, Hao Y, DeMarino C, Darko S, Cortese I, Reich DS, Gaitan MI, Jacobson S, Billioux BJ, Smith B, Nath A. Endothelial Cell Proteins as Biomarkers in Susac Syndrome. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2026 Aug 13. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70508. Online ahead of print.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 35027474Al-Louzi O, Letchuman V, Manukyan S, Beck ES, Roy S, Ohayon J, Pham DL, Cortese I, Sati P, Reich DS. Central Vein Sign Profile of Newly Developing Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2022 Jan 13;9(2):e1120. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001120. Print 2022 Mar.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 27270171Absinta M, Sati P, Schindler M, Leibovitch EC, Ohayon J, Wu T, Meani A, Filippi M, Jacobson S, Cortese IC, Reich DS. Persistent 7-tesla phase rim predicts poor outcome in new multiple sclerosis patient lesions. J Clin Invest. 2016 Jul 1;126(7):2597-609. doi: 10.1172/JCI86198. Epub 2016 Jun 6.
- NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web PageLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This is a natural history, not a clinical trial, therefore we are not obligated to provide a data sharing statement.
Related trials for Multiple Sclerosis
RecruitingPhase 2
Metformin as an add-on or Monotherapy in Treatment of Aging People With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis
RecruitingObservational study
Pain Phenotypes in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Pain
Not yet recruiting
Evaluating the Effect of the Zeen Mobility Device on Clinical Practicality, Safety, and Impact (Via Assessments of Walking, Standing Tolerance, Balance, Endurance, Effort, and Participation in Daily Tasks) in an Outpatient Rehabilitation Setting for Individuals With Mobility Impairments.
Stroke, Parkinson's Disease (PD)
RecruitingPhase 3
Dalfampridine Combined With Physical Therapy for Mobility Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis
RecruitingPhase 2
Targeting Agonists of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor for Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Daniel S Reich, M.D. principal investigator
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Multiple Sclerosis, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jenifer E Dwyer ((301) 496-3825, jenifer.dwyer@nih.gov), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
the rate of change in the number of new white matter lesions per participant (time frame: baseline vs. follow up visits). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00001248, which also lists 6 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2026.