AzTrials
AzTrials

Muscular Dystrophy, FacioscapulohumeralMUSCLE+NCT06227182

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasound Comparison With Load Evaluation

An observational study of Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral, run by Radboud University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common hereditary neuromuscular disorders (NMD), with an estimated prevalence of 2000 patients in the Netherlands. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and muscle ultrasound have contributed to an enhanced understanding of the pathophysiology of Facioscapulohumeral… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral
What is being tested?
Muscle ultrasound with surface electromyography and dynamometry and MRI scan
How many people
100 participants
Where
1 siteNetherlands
Study dates
10 Apr 2024to 31 Jan 2027
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 70 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: In the Netherlands, FSHD has an estimated prevalence of 2000 patients. All patients will be recruited from one of the largest longitudinal follow up database, FSHD-FOCUS, which is maintained at the Dutch Radboudumc expertise center. This FSHD-FOCUS cohortwas started in 2014 and includes around 200 patients with clinically and genetically proven FSHD type 1 and type 2. A 5-year-follow-up study (FSHD-FOCUS2) collected comprehensive data on the natural course of FSHD using multiple clinical outcome measures. Only patients who have given consent during the FSHD-FOCUS study to be contacted for subsequent research, will be contacted for this study.

Who may be able to join

  • Age between 18 and 70 years.
  • Informed consent is given by the participant.
  • Ability to read and understand written and spoken instruction in Dutch.
  • Willingness and ability to understand nature and content of the study

Who cannot join

  • BMI ≥ 35
  • Other diseases that could diffusely affect muscle integrity or disturb the imaging appearance beyond that what can be extrapolated.
  • Wheelchair dependence
  • Pregnancy
  • Stage II: Any contra-indications for MRI, including:
  • Claustrophobia
Show all 14Show fewer
  • Pacemakers and defibrillators
  • Nerve stimulators
  • Intracranial clips
  • Intraorbital or intraocular metallic fragments
  • Cochlear implants and ferromagnetic implants (e.g. implant for scoliosis)
  • Inability to lie supine for 60 minutes
  • Necessity of (continuous) daytime ventilation
  • Scoliosis surgery

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Odette Van Iersel, MSc contact

0243611111

Odette.vaniersel@radboudumc.nl

Jonne Doorduin, PhD contact

0243611111

Jonne.Doorduin@radboudumc.nl

Netherlands1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Radboud university medical center

    Nijmegen, Gelderland

    Odette Van Iersel, MSc, 0243611111, Odette.vaniersel@radboudumc.nl

    Jonne Doorduin, PhD, 0243611111, Jonne.Doorduin@radboudumc.nl

    Recruiting

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessing Muscle Contractile Performance in FSHD - An Exploratory Study

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common hereditary neuromuscular disorders (NMD), with an estimated prevalence of 2000 patients in the Netherlands. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and muscle ultrasound have contributed to an enhanced understanding of the pathophysiology of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD). Previously, our group demonstrated the potential presence of an intermediate factor between muscle fiber loss and clinical weakness in FSHD. The influence of disrupted muscle architecture in FSHD on muscle contractile efficiency is a likely candidate for this factor, and remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we aim to assess the use of ultrasound-defined contractile performance, in comparison with current measures including structural MRI, for monitoring disease progression in FSHD.

Read the detailed description

Rationale: Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a slowly progressive hereditary muscle dystrophy characterized by initial asymmetrical weakness of the facial and shoulder girdle muscles, frequently followed by weakness in the trunk and leg muscles.

Previously, our research group showed the potential presence of an intermediate factor between muscle fiber loss and clinical weakness in FSHD. The influence of disrupted muscle architecture in FSHD on muscle contractile efficiency is a likely candidate for this factor. However, there is currently still a lack of studies on how the disrupted muscle architecture in muscle dystrophies influences the contractile efficiency. We might establish a baseline for muscle contractile performance with muscle ultrasound, determined by muscle strain and displacement.

Muscle imaging has previously contributed to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of various neuromuscular disorders. Both MRI and ultrasound have proven their clinical relevance in neuromuscular dystrophy. With the current development of FSHD clinical trials, the extensive need for biomarkers to follow disease progression is growing. To investigate whether muscle contractile performance can help explain the loss in strength and thereby also has the potential to act as a future biomarker, will be explored in this project.

Objective(s): We aim to assess the use of ultrasound-defined contractile performance as a biomarker for monitoring disease progression and treatment effects in patients with FSHD.

Stage I:

To establish the feasibility, optimal protocol, and repeatability of quantifying ultrasound-defined muscle contractile performance in the upper and lower limb muscles in healthy volunteers and patients with FSHD.

Stage II:

  1. To determine the differences in ultrasound-defined contractile performance between healthy individuals and patients with FSHD, and compare to conventional clinical measures, ultrasound measures and MRI measures.
  2. To determine the responsiveness of ultrasound-defined contractile performance to disease progression in FSHD patients after 1 year, and compare to MRI measures and other ultrasound measures.

Study design: This prospective cohort study consists of two different stages. In Stage I, the feasibility and repeatability of quantifying ultrasound-defined muscle contractile performance will be assessed in 15 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with FSHD type 1 or 2. Each participant in stage I has to visit the hospital only once. In Stage II, the ultrasound-defined contractile performance, and other ultrasound and MRI outcome measures of healthy volunteers and FSHD patients (type 1 or 2) are compared. In addition, the responsiveness of the different measurements to disease progression after 1 year will be analyzed only in FSHD patients. 50 patients with FSHD will perform these measurements of stage II during the two scheduled visits at baseline (T0) and the two scheduled visits 1-year after the first visit. In stage II, 25 Healthy volunteers will be recruited and will undergo the muscle ultrasound assessment. Only 10 out of 25 healthy volunteers will also undergo the MRI measurements. None of the healthy volunteers will perform follow-up measurements after 1 year. Therefore, 15 healthy volunteers will perform the ultrasound assessment of stage II during 1 visit and 10 healthy volunteers will perform ultrasound measurements during visit 1 and MRI measurements during visit 2 at baseline. A total of 100 individuals will participate in this study.

Being tested
Muscle ultrasound with surface electromyography and dynamometry, MRI scan
Keywords
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Muscle Ultrasound
Medical subject headings
Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral

What participants receive

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

  • Muscle ultrasound with surface electromyography and dynamometryDiagnostic test

    The three procedures are conducted simultaneously for upper and lower extremity muscles. A standard muscle ultrasound preset with a fixed depth of 4 cm or 6 cm will be used, depending on which muscle is visualized in accordance with our routine clinical protocols. During the dynamic approach, the transducer will be placed in a longitudinal fixed position on the muscle using a ProbeFix. All measured contractions in the different muscles will be recorded as short ultrasound videos.

  • MRI scanDiagnostic test

    In Stage II, all patients and 10 healthy participants will undergo MRI. During the MRI procedure, we evaluate muscle fat fraction, muscle contractile volume, muscle inflammation and edema.

Study groups in NCT06227182
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Healthy individualsHealthy individuals between 18 and 70 years old.
Receives: Diagnostic Test: Muscle ultrasound with surface electromyography and dynamometry; Diagnostic Test: MRI scan
Patients with FSHDIndividuals with clinically and genetically proven FSHD type 1 or type 2.
Receives: Diagnostic Test: Muscle ultrasound with surface electromyography and dynamometry; Diagnostic Test: MRI scan

What is being measured

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

  1. Stage I: Repeatability and feasibility of the ultrasound-defined muscle contractile performance.

    The feasibility of the ultrasound-defined contractile performance procedure is expressed in the number of dropouts in stage I. The repeatability of the muscle contractile performance procedure will be determined with the coefficient of variation in stage I.

    Measured: At baseline

  2. Stage II: Difference in contractile performance, MRI measures and clinical measures between healthy individuals and patients with FSHD.

    The ultrasound Speckle-Tracking technique is employed during the dynamic approach to establish the muscle contractile performance, determined by muscle strain and displacement. The Ultrafast Shear Wave Elastography Imaging technique is used during the static approach to evaluate muscle stiffness, grey values(Z-scores) and muscle pinnation angle.

    With the MRI measurements we evaluate the muscle fat fraction (%), contractile volume(mm^3), muscle edema, muscle inflammation, fiber curvature, fascicle length(mm), PCSA(mm^2).

    Measured: At baseline

  3. Stage II: Change of contractile performance, MRI measures and clinical measures with FSHD disease progression after 1 year.

    The ultrasound, MRI and clinical measures at baseline are compared with the measures after 1 year.

    The ultrasound Speckle-Tracking technique is employed during the dynamic approach to establish the muscle contractile performance, determined by muscle strain and displacement. The Ultrafast Shear Wave Elastography Imaging technique is used during the static approach to evaluate muscle stiffness, grey values(Z-scores) and muscle pinnation angle.

    For FSHD patients in this study the Medical Research Counsel scale (MRC) and/or Ricci score will be known. These measures will also be used to evaluate disease progression. The range of the MRC score is 0-5, in which '0' means no contraction of the muscle and '5' means normal contraction of the muscle. The Ricci score ranges from 0 - 10 (0= no symptoms and 10=wheelchair bound).

    With the MRI measurements we evaluate the muscle fat fraction (%), contractile volume(mm^3), fiber curvature, fascicle length(mm), PCSA(mm^2).

    Measured: change from baseline to 1 year follow-up

Timeline

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

  1. First posted26 Jan 2024
  2. Study start10 Apr 2024
  3. Primary completion31 Jan 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Jan 2027 (estimated)

Resources

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
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
100 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06227182
Sponsor's protocol ID
NL84168.091.23
Acronym
MUSCLE+
Status last verified
Jan 2024
First submitted
18 Jan 2024
Last updated
13 Jan 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: All anonymized (imaging) data will be made available in a suitable open-source online repository after the study results are published in peer-reviewed journals. A DOI will be assigned to dataset published in the Donders Data Repository (soon: Radboud Data Repository).

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral, run by Radboud University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

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 4 inclusion and 14 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 13 Jan 2025. 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 Netherlands. 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 Odette Van Iersel, MSc (0243611111, Odette.vaniersel@radboudumc.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Stage I: Repeatability and feasibility of the ultrasound-defined muscle contractile performance. (time frame: At baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 13 Jan 2025.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in