Study of "Post-Polio Syndrome" - Full Text View

Purpose

Polio or poliomyelitis is the disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus attacks cells in the spinal cord and causes symptoms of fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, and stiffness of the neck. Patients with polio can have long-term weakness of muscles as a result of the damaged cells in the spinal cord. Occasionally, patients that recover from the disease can experience a relapse of muscle weakness. This can occur as long as 25-35 years after first having polio. The condition is called "post-polio syndrome".

Not all nerve cells in the spinal cord are damaged by the poliovirus. Some nerve cells remain healthy and take over the work of the damaged cells. Researchers believe that the "post-polio syndrome" may be caused by failure of these overworked nerve cells. However, what causes these overworked nerve cells to disintegrate is unknown.

The purpose of this study is to apply specific scientific tests to answer important questions about the causes and development of the post-polio syndrome. Researchers will investigate possible genetic, immunologic, and physiologic causes of the "post-polio syndrome". The study itself will not provide therapy for patients with the condition, but may lead to the development of therapies in the future.

Condition
Poliomyelitis Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome


Study Type:	Observational
Official Title:	Post-Polio Motor Neuron Disease: Clinical, Virological, and Immunological Studies

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center resources: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Poliomyelitis Post Polio Syndrome Myelitis

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):


Estimated Enrollment:	360
Study Start Date:	June 1982
Estimated Study Completion Date:	May 2003

Detailed Description:

"Post-polio syndrome" defines the new muscle weaknesses and the variety of new difficulties with daily living that some patients experience 25-35 years after maximum recovery from acute paralytic poliomyelitis. The new weakness appears to be due to disintegration of the distal nerve terminals of the surviving motor neurons whose soma has been stressed for years to maintain large motor units via excessive distal sprouting. The factors responsible for the disintegration of axonal sprouts and manifestation of the new weakness and fatigue are unknown. Whether an immune response to the poliovirus, immunogenetic, dysimmune or aging factors play a role in the pathogenesis of this process is also unknown.

The purpose of this protocol is to apply specific neuromuscular, electrophysiological, histological, virological, and immunological tests to answer pertinent questions regarding the pathogenesis of the post-polio syndrome. Studied patients will undergo a series of clinical neuromuscular evaluations, quantitative muscle testing, electromyography including single fiber EMG, immunogenetic, viral and immunochemical studies in the serum and spinal fluid, muscle biopsy and swallowing evaluation. Although this is not a therapeutic study, the information obtained would help us understand the pathogenetic mechanisms of the new weakness and could help us design possible therapies.

Eligibility


Ages Eligible for Study:	Child, Adult, Senior
Sexes Eligible for Study:	All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Patients with prior history of a well documented acute paralytic poliomyelitis with or without development of new neuromuscular symptoms after a minimum of 15 years from the acute illness will be studied.

Patients will be screened in the outpatient clinic and will be studied as inpatients (or, if stable, as outpatients) for three day stay.

Severly disabled patients with unstable respiratory function or those who require intensive care nursing or respiratory assistance will be excluded from the study.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00001185

Locations


United States, Maryland
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892

Sponsors and Collaborators

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

More Information

Publications:

Dalakas MC, Elder G, Hallett M, Ravits J, Baker M, Papadopoulos N, Albrecht P, Sever J. A long-term follow-up study of patients with post-poliomyelitis neuromuscular symptoms. N Engl J Med. 1986 Apr 10;314(15):959-63.

Dalakas M. Postpolio syndrome. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1990 Dec;2(6):901-7. Review.

Sonies BC, Dalakas MC. Dysphagia in patients with the post-polio syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1991 Apr 25;324(17):1162-7.


ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00001185 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	820083 82-N-0083
Study First Received:	November 3, 1999
Last Updated:	March 3, 2008

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):


Poliomyelitis Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Motor Neurons Late Viral Infection	Motor Neuron Firing Immune Defects Post-polio Syndrome Post-polio Motor Neuron Disease

Additional relevant MeSH terms:


Syndrome Poliomyelitis Motor Neuron Disease Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome Disease Pathologic Processes Enterovirus Infections Picornaviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases	Myelitis Central Nervous System Infections Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Spinal Cord Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Muscular Disorders, Atrophic Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on July 21, 2017