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Recruiting NCT06599307

The Effect of Rituximab on Cognitive and Hand Functions in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Phase II Interventional Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Rituximab, Saline (NaCl 0,9 %) (placebo).
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS). Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Egypt
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Official title

The Effect of Rituximab on Cognitive and Hand Functions in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to know if rituximab can improve cognitive and hand functions in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients with high disability (EDSS 6.5 or more). The main questions it aims to answer are: Can rituximab improve cognitive and hand functions in SPMS patients? Can rituximab improve the quality of life and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in SPMS patients? Researchers will compare patients who receive rituximab to patient who receive placebo to see the effects of rituximab on cognition, hand functions, quality of life and EDSS. Demographic and clinical data as age, gender, disease duration and EDSS will be obtained from each participant. Participants will perform The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), The Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) and The MS-QLQ27 questionnaire at baseline and after one year of receiving either rituximab or placebo.

Interventions

  • Drug Rituximab
    Rituximab 1gm vial diluted on 500 ml normal saline 0.9%
  • Other Saline (NaCl 0,9 %) (placebo)
    500 ml of normal saline 0.9%

Primary outcome measures

  • The effect of rituximab on cognitive functions assessed by The Symbol Digit Modalities Test [Time frame: One year]
  • The effect of rituximab on cognitive functions assessed by The Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised [Time frame: One year]
  • The effect of rituximab on cognitive functions assessed by The California Verbal Learning Test-II [Time frame: One year]
  • The effect of rituximab on hand functions assessed by The Nine-Hole Peg Test [Time frame: One year]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
  • The effect of rituximab on quality of life [Time frame: One year]
  • The effect of rituximab on EDSS [Time frame: One year]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis by Lorscheider et al's criteria (disability progression by 1 EDSS step in patients with EDSS ≤ 5.5 or 0.5 EDSS step in patients with EDSS ≥ 6 in the absence of a relapse, a minimum EDSS score of 4 and pyramidal functional system (FS) score of 2 and confirmed progression over ≥3 months, including confirmation within the leading FS).
  • Baseline EDSS ≥ 6.5.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients received disease modifying therapy for SPMS other than rituximab.
  • Clinical relapse in the last 3 months before recruitment.
  • Patients with documented hypersensitivity or contraindication to rituximab.
  • Patients with concomitant neurologic conditions that may affect cognitive or hand functions.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double blind
Primary purpose
Supportive care

Study locations

Egypt · 1 center
  • Kasr Alainy Multiple Sclerosis Unit (KAMSU), Cairo University hospitals. — Giza

Publications

  • Carpinella I, Cattaneo D, Ferrarin M. Quantitative assessment of upper limb motor function in Multiple Sclerosis using an instrumented Action Research Arm Test. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2014 Apr 18;11:67. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-11-67. PMID 24745972
  • Torgauten HM, Myhr KM, Wergeland S, Bo L, Aarseth JH, Torkildsen O. Safety and efficacy of rituximab as first- and second line treatment in multiple sclerosis - A cohort study. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2021 Jan 31;7(1):2055217320973049. doi: 10.1177/2055217320973049. eCollection 2021 Jan-Mar. PMID 33796328
  • Salehizadeh S, Saeedi R, Sahraian MA, Rezaei Aliabadi H, Hashemi SN, Eskandarieh S, Gheini MR, Shahmirzaei S, Owji M, Naser Moghadasi A. Effect of Rituximab on the cognitive impairment in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Caspian J Intern Med. 2022 Summer;13(3):484-489. doi: 10.22088/cjim.13.3.484. PMID 35974939
  • Naegelin Y, Naegelin P, von Felten S, Lorscheider J, Sonder J, Uitdehaag BMJ, Scotti B, Zecca C, Gobbi C, Kappos L, Derfuss T. Association of Rituximab Treatment With Disability Progression Among Patients With Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Neurol. 2019 Mar 1;76(3):274-281. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.4239. PMID 30615019
  • Brochet B, Clavelou P, Defer G, De Seze J, Louapre C, Magnin E, Ruet A, Thomas-Anterion C, Vermersch P. Cognitive Impairment in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Effect of Disease Duration, Age, and Progressive Phenotype. Brain Sci. 2022 Jan 29;12(2):183. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12020183. PMID 35203948

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06599307 · MD-146-2024

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗