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NCT06274671Active, not recruiting

Glymphatic MRI in Clinically Isolated Syndrome

A Pilot Study to Investigate Glymphatic System Alterations in Vivo in Patients With Clinically Isolated Syndrome, Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 8 May 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The brain possesses a system to get rid of unwanted substances, named Glymphatic System (GS). When this system is faulty, these accumulate, there is local inflammation, and progressive death of the cells. This occurs in neurological diseases including Parkinson's, or Alzheimer's. Inflammation and progressive death of the cells are also present in another neurological disorder, named Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Doctors think that GS dysfunction plays a role in MS too. In this research therefore, the aim is to study whether it drives inflammation, and disease progression in MS patients. The researchers have developed a new way to find signs of alteration of the GS using a scan named Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and will use it in a pilot study on patients with a condition named Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS), which often represents the very beginning of MS. It would therefore be demonstrated that the GS is a new mechanism of disease in CIS, which may associate with the symptoms, or the alterations in the levels of some substances in the blood suggestive of brain cells damage. Should this study be successful, this would provide preliminary evidence to perform a larger research study to assess if GS dysfunction drives the progression of MS.

Status (registry)
Active, not recruiting
Study type
Observational
Enrollment
30 (estimated)
First submitted
31 Jan 2024
Start date
1 May 2024
Primary completion date
31 Dec 2026
Lead sponsor
University of Exeter
NCT number
NCT06274671

What you commit to

  • Study type: Observational
  • Planned participants: 30
  • From 1 May 2024 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2026
  • 2 sites in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Have received any investigational product within a time-period equal to five half-lives of the product, if known, or minimum of 60 days before consent

Other illness

  • Present psychiatric disorders or severe cognitive deficit
  • Past or present history of drug or alcohol abuse
  • Have implants, such as implanted cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, insulin pumps, cochlear implants, metallic ocular foreign body, implanted neural stimulators, aneurysm clips, or other medical implants that have not been deemed safe for MRI
  • Have a history of claustrophobia

Lab values

  • Have any other medical, neurological, or psychiatric condition or clinically significant laboratory abnormality excluding CIS which, in the opinion of the Investigator, might preclude participation
  • It is preferable the following laboratory tests are part of the subject's medical history for differential diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS): erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antinuclear antibody (ANA), complement (C3, C4) and anticardiolipin IgG - IgM

Other

  • Have a diagnosis of clinically definite Multiple Sclerosis according to the 2017 McDonald's Criteria (Thompson et al., 2018)
  • Have a CIS limited to the spinal cord (transverse myelitis)
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding, if females of childbearing potential
  • Are taking benzodiazepines on a regular basis or are unable to suspend intake of benzodiazepines
  • Are unable to lie down for MRI scanning
  • Have any finding on the brain MRI that would compromise subject safety or the scientific integrity of the study
  • Have any other contraindication to MRI scanning
  • Have a relapse occurred after consent but before the MRI scan

Who the study is looking for

  • Male or female, aged 18 or over
  • Suitable physically and psychologically to undertake the assessments, as judged by the Investigator
  • Have voluntarily provided informed consent and have signed an ICF indicating that the purpose of the study has been explained and are willing and able to adhere to the study procedures described in the ICF.
  • (For CIS group): A diagnosis of CIS or MS at first presentation
  • Subjects must not have taken corticosteroids or IVIg or plasma-exchange within the 30 days prior to consent
  • Adequate vision and hearing to perform the study procedures
  • Medically healthy with no clinically significant findings on physical examination, laboratory profiles, vital signs at screening (with the exception of the signs of the condition under investigation)
  • Women of child-bearing potential must practice a medically acceptable method of birth control. Acceptable methods include oral contraceptive, contraceptive patch, long-acting injectable contraceptive, or double-barrier method (condom or intrauterine device with spermicide).
  • If on immunomodulatory medication, patients must have started it at least 30 days from screening and should not change their medication dose for the duration of the study.

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (2)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
University Of Exeter
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
ExeterUnited KingdomUnknown status
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
ExeterUnited KingdomUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.