August 1, 2008
Electrical Impedance Myography in ALSResearchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, are seeking individuals with ALS for participation in a study of a new method for assessing the rate of disease progression. By improving detection of ALS progression, it will be easier to identify new drugs and other therapies to help slow or stop the disease, since fewer patients will be needed for studies and the studies can be completed in shorter periods of time.
The specific purpose of this study is to evaluate a new technique called electrical impedance myography (EIM) and compare it to more traditional methods, including questionnaires, and examination of physical strength. Our hope is that we will be able to show that EIM is more considerably sensitive to detecting disease progression than other approaches.
People who participate will first undergo a screening visit to confirm eligibility and then will undergo several baseline measurements. Subjects will then need to return every 2-3 months, at which time EIM measurements, strength measurements, nerve testing (which will include small electrical shocks to the arm and measurement of responses on the hand that may be mildly uncomfortable) will be made and a simple questionnaire completed.
Eight East Coast medical centers, from Boston to Miami, are participating in this study.
To find the site nearest you, go to: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00620698 which contains a list of the individual sites and their contact information.
The principal investigator for this study is Dr. Seward Rutkove. For more information, please contact the study coordinator, Connie Lin at 617-667-3053 or via email at clin2@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Seward B. Rutkove, MD
Chief, Neuromuscular Division
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Avenue, Boston MA 02215
