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Muscular Atrophy, SpinalNCT04674618

Ultrasound-assisted vs Landmark Based Intrathecal Administration of Nusinersen

A study testing US-assisted nusinersen administration in people with Muscular Atrophy, Spinal and Ultrasound, run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS at 1 site in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Intrathecal administration of Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide capable of increasing Survival Motor Neuron protein production, has been tested in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to improve motor function and survival. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Muscular Atrophy, Spinal, Ultrasound
What is being tested?
US-assisted nusinersen administration
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
58 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
14 Dec 2020to 21 Dec 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • SMA adult patients

Who cannot join

  • coagulation defects;
  • medication with anticoagulant;
  • infection in puncture site;
  • high intracranial pressure

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • IRCCS Policlinico Agostino Gemelli

    Rome, 00168

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Ultrasound-assisted vs Landmark Based Intrathecal Administration of Nusinersen in Adult Patients With SMA Disease: a Randomized Trial

Intrathecal administration of Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide capable of increasing Survival Motor Neuron protein production, has been tested in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to improve motor function and survival. A feature of adult SMA patients is a progressive neuromyopathic scoliosis, so spinal nusinersen administration can be challenging. Landmark identification using a pre-procedure ultrasound (US) facilitates technical performance of spinal anesthesia and allows for the elimination of radiation exposure.

The aim of this randomized prospectic study is to determine if the US assistance for spinal administration of nusinersen is able to increase the proportion at successful 1st needle insertion of the needle. Secondary outcome measures are procedure time, patient satisfaction and prevalence of postdural puncture headache.

Patients will be randomlized to receive a US-assisted nusinersen administration or a landmark based nusinersen administration.

Read the detailed description

Background Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) capable of increasing SMN protein production, has been used in clinical trials in infants and children with SMA type 1 or type 2 and has been associated to a significantly better motor development, motor function, and survival compared with placebo groups. Because of the lacking ability of ASOs to cross the blood-brain barrier, nusinersen is administered intrathecally. While most infants with SMA type 1 die in easy childhood without a muscular and nutritional support, SMA type 2 patients often reach adulthood, and patients with SMA type 3 generally have a normal lifespan. A further feature of SMA patients is a progressive neuromyopathic scoliosis, so spinal nusinersen administration can be challenging because of poorly palpable surface landmarks, as in elderly and in obese patients. In patients with anticipated difficult anatomy, the failure rate of neuraxial anesthesia may be as high as 17%. Furthermore, multiple needle punctures are associated with hematoma, post-dural-puncture headache, back pain, and patient dissatisfaction. Current data suggest that landmark identification using a pre-procedure ultrasound (US) is a useful adjunct to neuraxial anesthesia that facilitates technical performance in obstetric and pediatric patients. In adult patients with difficult spinal anatomy a pre-procedure US reduces the number of attempts and the number of needle passes necessary for successful spinal anesthesia and can predict technical difficulty; notably, compared to fluoroscopy, sonography allows for the elimination of radiation exposure for patient and physician and for a cost reduction for institution. Despite these potential advantages, reports of lumbar central neuraxial blocks US guidance in patients with predicted placement difficulties are limited. Most reports to date involve a small number of patients with normal anatomy.

Methods The study will be conducted in Fondazione Policlinico "A.Gemelli" operatory rooms, Rome, Italy. Written informed consent will be obtained from all patients enrolled in the study. SMA adult patients referring to NEMO center of this institution will be enrolled. Exclusion criteria will be: coagulation defects, patients medicated with anticoagulation, any finding of infection in puncture site, high intracranial pressure. A visit will be performed before the procedure.

Patients will be randomly assigned in ratio 1:1 to one of two groups using a sealed envelope: Group 1 (US-assisted nusinersen administration) and Group 2 (landmark based nusinersen administration). Nusinersen administration will be performed with a single-operator technique by one of two anesthesiologists trained on US-guided or -assisted central neuraxial blocks. With patient in sitting position, or in lateral position if forced posture will be needed, after skin disinfection with 2% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol, the spinal administration will be performed as follows: Group 1 (US- guided nusinersen administration). The paramedian sagittal oblique view will be used to identify specific lumbar interspaces and perform the procedure. Starting at the sacrum and moving cephalad, the L2-3 or L3-4 intervertebral interspace will be identified. After local anesthesia with lidocaine 2% (3-5 mL), a 25-gauge Withacre spinal needle will be used to identify subarachnoid space. After confirmation of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and after removing 5 ml of CSF, nusinersen will be administered intrathecally over 1-3 min. Group 2 (landmark based nusinersen administration).

The desired intervertebral space (L2-3 or L3-4) was first identified by manual palpation of surface landmarks and marked on the skin. After local anesthesia with lidocaine 2% (3-5 mL) a 25-gauge Withacre spinal needle will be used. After confirmation of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and after removing 5 ml of CSF, nusinersen will be administered as previously described. After successful administration, patients will be positioned in the supine position for 2-3 h. Within 72 hours of administration a phone survey will be conducted to evaluate the development of postdural puncture headache. Another outpatient visit will be performed at 30 days after the procedure.

Being tested
US-assisted nusinersen administration
Medical subject headings
Muscular Atrophy, Spinal

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • US-assisted nusinersen administrationDevice

    Ultrasound identification of intervertebral space (L2-L3 or L3-L4)

Study groups in NCT04674618
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
US-assisted nusinersen administrationExperimentalA paramedian sagittal oblique view will be used to identify with ultrasound specific lumbar interspaces. After local anesthesia the spinal needle will be used to identify subarachnoid space. After confirmation of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and after removing 5 ml of CSF, nusinersen will be administered intrathecally over 1-3 min.
Receives: Device: US-assisted nusinersen administration
landmark based nusinersen administrationNo interventionThe desired intervertebral space will be first identified by manual palpation of surface landmarks and marked on the skin. After local anesthesia the spinal needle will be usedto identify subarachnoid space. After confirmation of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and after removing 5 ml of CSF, nusinersen will be administered intrathecally over 1-3 min.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Number of attempts

    The number of needle insertions through the skin surface. If complete withdrawal of the needle from the patient's skin surface will be needed, followed by reinsertion in a different skin location or a different spinal level, this will be counted as a second attempt.

    Measured: During the procedure (spinal injection of nusinersen)

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Successful administration

    confirmation of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal needle and subsequent nusinersen administration

    Measured: During the procedure (spinal injection of nusinersen)

  2. Procedure time

    the time in seconds from the start of US imaging to visualization of cerebrospinal fluid flow in intervention group and from the first hand contact to the skin to visualization of cerebrospinal fluid flow in control group.

    Measured: During the procedure (spinal injection of nusinersen)

  3. Patients satisfaction

    will be evaluated with a five-point Likert Scale (from a value of 1- extremely unsatisfied to a value of 5-extremely satisfied)

    Measured: 5 minutes after the end of the procedure (spinal injection of nusinersen)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted19 Dec 2020
  2. Study start14 Dec 2020
  3. Primary completion14 Dec 2021
  4. Study completion21 Dec 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
58 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04674618
Sponsor's protocol ID
3352
Status last verified
Jul 2021
First submitted
10 Dec 2020
Last updated
21 Feb 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Finkel RS, Mercuri E, Darras BT, Connolly AM, Kuntz NL, Kirschner J, Chiriboga CA, Saito K, Servais L, Tizzano E, Topaloglu H, Tulinius M, Montes J, Glanzman AM, Bishop K, Zhong ZJ, Gheuens S, Bennett CF, Schneider E, Farwell W, De Vivo DC; ENDEAR Study Group. Nusinersen versus Sham Control in Infantile-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 2;377(18):1723-1732. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1702752.

    PubMed 29091570
  • Mercuri E, Darras BT, Chiriboga CA, Day JW, Campbell C, Connolly AM, Iannaccone ST, Kirschner J, Kuntz NL, Saito K, Shieh PB, Tulinius M, Mazzone ES, Montes J, Bishop KM, Yang Q, Foster R, Gheuens S, Bennett CF, Farwell W, Schneider E, De Vivo DC, Finkel RS; CHERISH Study Group. Nusinersen versus Sham Control in Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy. N Engl J Med. 2018 Feb 15;378(7):625-635. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1710504.

    PubMed 29443664
  • Geary RS, Yu RZ, Levin AA. Pharmacokinetics of phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2001 Apr;2(4):562-73.

    PubMed 11566019
  • Zerres K, Rudnik-Schoneborn S, Forrest E, Lusakowska A, Borkowska J, Hausmanowa-Petrusewicz I. A collaborative study on the natural history of childhood and juvenile onset proximal spinal muscular atrophy (type II and III SMA): 569 patients. J Neurol Sci. 1997 Feb 27;146(1):67-72. doi: 10.1016/s0022-510x(96)00284-5.

    PubMed 9077498
  • Oskoui M, Levy G, Garland CJ, Gray JM, O'Hagen J, De Vivo DC, Kaufmann P. The changing natural history of spinal muscular atrophy type 1. Neurology. 2007 Nov 13;69(20):1931-6. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000290830.40544.b9.

    PubMed 17998484
  • Kim JH, Song SY, Kim BJ. Predicting the difficulty in performing a neuraxial blockade. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2011 Nov;61(5):377-81. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2011.61.5.377. Epub 2011 Nov 23.

    PubMed 22148085
  • Fettes PD, Jansson JR, Wildsmith JA. Failed spinal anaesthesia: mechanisms, management, and prevention. Br J Anaesth. 2009 Jun;102(6):739-48. doi: 10.1093/bja/aep096. Epub 2009 May 6.

    PubMed 19420004
  • Sahin T, Balaban O, Sahin L, Solak M, Toker K. A randomized controlled trial of preinsertion ultrasound guidance for spinal anaesthesia in pregnancy: outcomes among obese and lean parturients: ultrasound for spinal anesthesia in pregnancy. J Anesth. 2014 Jun;28(3):413-9. doi: 10.1007/s00540-013-1726-1. Epub 2013 Oct 20.

    PubMed 24141882
  • Scapinelli R. Morphological and functional changes of the lumbar spinous processes in the elderly. Surg Radiol Anat. 1989;11(2):129-33. doi: 10.1007/BF02096469.

    PubMed 2763004
  • Angle P, Tang SL, Thompson D, Szalai JP. Expectant management of postdural puncture headache increases hospital length of stay and emergency room visits. Can J Anaesth. 2005 Apr;52(4):397-402. doi: 10.1007/BF03016283.

    PubMed 15814755
  • Sng BL, Lim Y, Sia AT. An observational prospective cohort study of incidence and characteristics of failed spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2009 Jul;18(3):237-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2009.01.010. Epub 2009 May 17.

    PubMed 19450971
  • Horlocker TT, McGregor DG, Matsushige DK, Schroeder DR, Besse JA. A retrospective review of 4767 consecutive spinal anesthetics: central nervous system complications. Perioperative Outcomes Group. Anesth Analg. 1997 Mar;84(3):578-84. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199703000-00021.

    PubMed 9052305
  • Vallejo MC, Phelps AL, Singh S, Orebaugh SL, Sah N. Ultrasound decreases the failed labor epidural rate in resident trainees. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2010 Oct;19(4):373-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2010.04.002. Epub 2010 Aug 8.

    PubMed 20696564
  • Grau T, Leipold RW, Conradi R, Martin E, Motsch J. Efficacy of ultrasound imaging in obstetric epidural anesthesia. J Clin Anesth. 2002 May;14(3):169-75. doi: 10.1016/s0952-8180(01)00378-6.

    PubMed 12031746
  • Grau T, Leipold RW, Fatehi S, Martin E, Motsch J. Real-time ultrasonic observation of combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2004 Jan;21(1):25-31. doi: 10.1017/s026502150400105x.

    PubMed 14768920

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing US-assisted nusinersen administration in people with Muscular Atrophy, Spinal and Ultrasound, run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS at 1 site in Italy.

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 1 inclusion and 4 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Feb 2024. 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 Italy. 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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Number of attempts (time frame: During the procedure (spinal injection of nusinersen)). 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 NCT04674618, which also lists 25 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 21 Feb 2024.

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