Efficacy and Safety of Bilateral Cervical Lymphatic-Venous Anastomosis in the Treatment of Multiple System Atrophy
Key facts
- Where
- Shanghai, ChinaSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 40 and 70 years old?
Source: NCT07036939, who can take part
Where in China
- Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai, ChinaContact: Shengdi Chen, MD, PhDNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Ruijin Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07036939
- Record updated
- 25 June 2025
- Original description
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare and aggressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a combination of motor impairments, autonomic dysfunction, and cerebellar ataxia, with no currently available disease-modifying therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that impaired glymphatic clearance of pathological α-synuclein aggregates may contribute to disease progression. This clinical study investigates the potential of bilateral cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) - a microsurgical procedure connecting deep cervical lymphatics to veins - to enhance glymphatic drainage and slow disease progression in MSA patients.Read full original descriptionShow less
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare and aggressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a combination of motor impairments, autonomic dysfunction, and cerebellar ataxia, with no currently available disease-modifying therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that impaired glymphatic clearance of pathological α-synuclein aggregates may contribute to disease progression. This clinical study investigates the potential of bilateral cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) - a microsurgical procedure connecting deep cervical lymphatics to veins - to enhance glymphatic drainage and slow disease progression in MSA patients.
This single-center prospective clinical study will enroll patients with clinically confirmed MSA to undergo bilateral cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA). Through comprehensive pre- and postoperative evaluations including clinical scale assessments, blood biomarker testing, and neuroimaging examinations, the study aims to evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of bilateral LVA on patients' motor function, autonomic symptoms, and quality of life, as well as its potential to delay disease progression.
The study will further investigate whether the potential clinical improvements from LVA are mediated through enhanced intracranial lymphatic drainage function and subsequent clearance of pathological α-Syn protein in the brain. Safety assessments will include monitoring and recording both short-term and long-term postoperative complications. This research may provide a novel non-pharmacological intervention approach for MSA treatment.
Inclusion: Meets the 2022 Chinese Expert Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Clinically Established Multiple System Atrophy (MSA); Unified MSA Rating Scale Part IV (UMSARS-IV) global disability score ≤3; Age: 40-70 years; ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Physical Status Classification ≤III, indicating acceptable anesthesia risk; Ability to complete neuropsychological assessments, physical examinations, brain MRI, and venous blood sampling; Willing to participate, provide biospecimens, and sign informed consent.
Exclusion: Surgical Contraindications:; Cognitive/Psychiatric Disorders: Congenital intellectual disability or severe neurological/psychiatric disorders affecting compliance; Severe Comorbidities: End-stage cardiac, hepatic, renal, or respiratory failure, or active malignancy with life expectancy <1 year; Coagulopathy (uncontrolled bleeding risk); Allergy to surgical drugs/contrast agents; Active neck infection (skin/deep tissue); Inability to adhere to study visits; Participation in other competing clinical trials.