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Deciphering Preserved Autonomic Function After Multiple Sclerosis

Deciphering Preserved Autonomic Function After Multiple Sclerosis

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07012135
Acronym
DPAF-MS
Enrollment
13
Registered
2025-06-10
Start date
2025-09-17
Completion date
2026-12-31
Last updated
2026-05-28

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

Conditions

Autonomic Dysreflexia, Control Subjects, Multiple Sclerosis

Brief summary

This study looks to characterize gradients of dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system in patients with clinically diagnosed multiple sclerosis. The autonomic nervous system plays key roles in regulation of blood pressure, skin blood flow, and bladder health- all issues that individuals with multiple sclerosis typically suffer. Focusing on blood pressure regulation, the most precise metric with broad clinical applicability, the investigators will perform laboratory-based tests to probe the body's ability to generate autonomic responses. For both individuals with multiple sclerosis and uninjured controls, laboratory-based experiments will utilize multiple parallel recordings to identify how the autonomic nervous system is able to inhibit and activate signals. The investigators anticipate that those with autonomic dysfunction with multiple sclerosis will exhibit abnormalities in these precise metrics. The investigators will look to see if any substantial connections exist between different degrees of preserved autonomic function and secondary autonomic complications from multiple sclerosis. In accomplishing this, the investigators hope to give scientists important insights to how the autonomic nervous system works after multiple sclerosis and give physicians better tools to manage these secondary autonomic complications.

Interventions

Bolus phenylephrine infusion using the Oxford technique will generate the need to inhibit sympathetic activity. Similarly, resting state Mayer waves will be assessed with regard to heart rate and blood pressure responses.

Cold pressor test of the hand will be used to cause sympathetic activation. Valsalva's maneuver will assess the ability to buffer against blood pressure fall (phase II).

Cold pressor test of the foot and bladder pressor response will be tested.

Sponsors

Mayo Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* 18-50 years old * clinically confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis -OR- uninjured control

Exclusion criteria

* symptoms of cardiovascular (including, but not limited to: hypertension, stroke, chest pain, etc.), respiratory, peripheral neurological or autonomic disease (particularly diabetes mellitus requiring treatment) * women who are pregnant or lactating * having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2 * taking or being administered a medication known to potentially have adverse interactions with phenylephrine * in the judgement of the principal investigator or clinical collaborator, any illness or condition that will interfere with the patient's ability to comply with the protocol, compromise patient safety, or interfere with the interpretation of the study results

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Valsalva Maneuver Phase IIDuring single laboratory diagnostic testing session, on average 30 minutes after start of laboratory testing sessionPresence or absence of phase II on Valsalva maneuver testing, which takes approximately 15 seconds to complete. This will be repeated x3.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Beat-to-beat heart rateContinuous recording during single laboratory diagnostic testing session, from baseline to lab session end, average of 3 hours in durationElectrocardiogram will record continuous measures with changes in R-R interval (ms) quantified and compared to baseline.
Beat-to-beat blood pressureContinuous recording during single laboratory diagnostic testing session, from baseline to lab session end, average of 3 hours in durationNon-invasive continuous blood pressure monitors will be used, with changes in systolic and diastolic pressure (in mmHg) from resting baseline measured.
Quantify autonomic dysreflexia and orthostatic hypotensionBaseline, prior to laboratory diagnostic testing sessionParticipants will be given the Autonomic Dysfunction Following Spinal Cord Injury questionnaire (score range 0-436, with higher scores indicating more autonomic dysfunction).
Quantify secondary autonomic complicationsBaseline, prior to laboratory diagnostic testing sessionParticipants will be given the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (range 0-100, with higher scores indicating more autonomic dysfunction).
Serum Catecholamines3x during single laboratory diagnostic testing session - collected at Baseline, pre-pressor test, post-pressor test - pre-pressor & post-pressor timepoint labs collected on average 2.5 & 3 hours post-baseline, respectivelyA series of 3 serum catecholamine draws will occur during the study visit at baseline, pre-pressor test, and post-pressor test to evaluate change in stress hormone.
Serum Cortisol3x during single laboratory diagnostic testing session - collected at Baseline, pre-pressor test, post-pressor test - pre-pressor & post-pressor timepoint labs collected on average 2.5 & 3 hours post-baseline, respectivelyA series of 3 serum cortisol draws will occur during the study visit at baseline, pre-pressor test, and post-pressor test to evaluate change in stress hormone.
T-Cell Exhaustion MarkersDuring single laboratory diagnostic testing session - BaselineBlood will be drawn at start of laboratory testing to assess T-cell exhaustion markers by incidence of surface markers including PD-1, TIM-3, LAG3, and CTLA-4 per individual.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTErin Lund
lund.erin@mayo.edu507-284-9298
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRyan J. Solinsky, MD

Mayo Clinic

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 29, 2026