Skip to content

Efficacy of Riluzole in Surgical Treatment for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM-Protect)

Efficacy of Riluzole in Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Undergoing Surgical Treatment. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Multi-Center Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01257828
Acronym
CSM-Protect
Enrollment
270
Registered
2010-12-10
Start date
2012-03-31
Completion date
2018-06-01
Last updated
2018-11-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Brief summary

CSM (Cervical spondylotic myelopathy) is the most common cause of spinal cord injury worldwide. While there is evidence from the recently completed SpineNet prospective study that surgical decompression is an effective treatment for CSM, it is clear that many patients have remaining neurological impairment. While surgery is relatively safe, approximately 3% of patients maintain a neurological problem. Given this background and data from preclinical models of non-traumatic and traumatic spinal cord injury, there is strong evidence to consider the potential benefit of adding a neuroprotective drug which aids in the treatment of patients with CSM whom are undergoing surgical decompression. Riluzole is FDA-approved for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which has some similar clinical features to CSM. Riluzole is currently under investigation for traumatic spinal cord injury. Given this background, there is a strong basis to consider studying the potential neurological benefits of Riluzole as a treatment to surgical decompression in patients with CSM.

Interventions

DRUGriluzole

50mg BID orally for 14 days prior to surgery and 28 days after the surgery

50mg BID orally for 14 days prior to surgery and 28 days after the surgery

Sponsors

AOSpine North America Research Network
Lead SponsorNETWORK

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age between 18 and 80 years * Diagnosis of symptomatic cervical spondylotic myelopathy defined as a combination of: 1. one or more of the following symptoms: * Numb hands * Clumsy hands * Impairment of gait * Bilateral arm paresthesiae * l'Hermitte's phenomena * Weakness And, 2. one or more of the following signs: * Corticospinal distribution motor deficits * Atrophy of hand intrinsic muscles * Hyperreflexia * Positive Hoffman sign * Upgoing plantar responses * Lower limb spasticity * Broad based, unstable gait And, 3. MRI evidence of cervical spondylotic myelopathy * Scheduled for an elective surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy * Preoperative mJOA score ≥8 and ≤14 * Women of child bearing potential must be: * Postmenopausal defined as amenorrhea for at least 2 years. * Surgically sterile, (have had a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy, tubal ligation, or otherwise be incapable of pregnancy) * Abstinent (at the discretion of the investigator) * Having other congenital or medical condition that prevents subject from becoming pregnant * If sexually active, be practicing an effective method of birth control such as hormonal prescription oral contraceptives, progesterone implants or injections, intrauterine device (IUD), or male partner with a vasectomy. A double-barrier method such as condoms, diaphragms or cervical caps with spermicidal foam, cream or gel may be used as a birth control method. * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) pregnancy test or a negative urine pregnancy test at screening before the first dose of study drug is received.

Exclusion criteria

* Previous surgery for CSM * Concomitant symptomatic lumbar stenosis * CSM symptoms due to cervical trauma (at the discretion of the investigator) * Hypersensitivity to riluzole or any of its components * Neutropenia measured as absolute neutrophil count (ANC) measured in cells per microliter of blood of \< 1500 at screening visit * Creatinine level of \> 1.2 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dl) in males or \> 1.1 milligrams per deciliter in females at screening visit Liver enzymes (ALT or AST) 3x higher than normal values at screening visit. * Liver enzymes (ALT or AST) 3x higher than normal values at screening visit. * Subject will be using any of the following medications which are classified as CYP1A2 inhibitors or inducers\*during the course of the drug regimen: Inhibitors: * Ciprofloxacin * Enoxacin * Fluvoxamine * Methoxsalen * Mexiletine * Oral contraceptives * Phenylpropanolamine * Thiabendazole * Zileuton Inducers: * Montelukast * Phenytoin \*Note: no washout period required; if these medications are discontinued, subjects are eligible to be enrolled in the trial. * Systemic infection such as AIDS, HIV, and active hepatitis * Active malignancy defined as history of invasive malignancy, except if the patient has received treatment and displayed no clinical signs and symptoms for at least five years * Recent history (less than 3 years) of chemical substance dependency or significant psychosocial disturbance that may impact the outcome or study participation * Breastfeeding at screening visit and plan to continue during the course of the study drug * Unlikely to comply with the follow-up evaluation schedule * Unlikely to comply with investigational drug regime * Participation in a clinical trial of another investigational drug or device within the past 30 days * Is a prisoner * Unable to converse, read or write English at elementary school level

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association Score (mJOA)Before the surgery, 180 daysThe mJOA is a clinician administered scale. It evaluates four clinical dimensions; motor dysfunction score for upper and lower extremities, sensation loss and sphincter dysfunction. The total score ranges from 0 (worst) to 18 (best).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
SF-36v2.0Before the surgery, 180 daysThe SF36v2.0 is a health-related quality of life instrument that evaluates health status accross eight health dimensions.
Neck Disability Index (NDI)Before the surgery, 180 daysThe NDI evaluates patient self-reported functional outcomes related to neck conditions. The NDI score ranges from 0 (best) to 100 (worst).
Nurick ScorePre-surgical, 180 daysNurick score is a simple measure of neurological dysfunction and ranges from 0 (best) to 6 (worst).
EQ-5DBefore the surgery, 180 daysEQ-5D™ is a standardised instrument for use as a measure of health outcome. It provides a simple descriptive profile and a single index value for health status.
American Spinal Injury Association Score (ASIA)Before the surgery, 180 daysThe ASIA impairment scale describes a person's functional impairment as a result of their spinal cord injury.
Cervical Pain Numeric Rating ScaleBefore the surgery, 180 daysSimple numeric rating scale with choises of answers from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain)

Countries

Canada, United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 24, 2026