Acute Intermittent Hypoxia and Breathing in Neuromuscular Disease
Study Purpose:
This project seeks to investigate the effects of a single acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) session on respiratory and non-respiratory motor function and EMG (electromyography) activity on patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and healthy controls.
Disease:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Familial ALS, Sporadic ALS, Healthy Volunteer, Healthy Volunteer with a Family History of ALSStudy Type:
Interventional TrialStudy Category:
Study Status:
EnrollingPhase:
Not ApplicableStudy Chair(s)/Principal Investigator(s):
Barbara K Smith, PT, PhD, University of Florida
Clinicaltrials.gov ID (11 digit #):
NCT03645031Neals Affiliated?
NoCoordinating Center Contact Information
University of FloridaBarbara K Smith, PT, PhD / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / 352-294-5315
Jessica Ehrbar, MS / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / 352-273-6855
Gainesville, Florida 32611 United States
Full Study Summary:
Most ALS patients survive less than 5 years after diagnosis, and the main cause of death is respiratory failure. The investigators are interested in the therapeutic potential of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) for individuals with neuromuscular diseases, such as ALS. More than two decades of research indicates AIH elicits meaningful respiratory and non-respiratory motor recovery. Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) consists of alternating periods of breathing mildly hypoxic (lowered oxygen concentration) and normoxic (normal oxygen concentration) air.
The investigators propose to study mechanisms of respiratory plasticity associated with a single presentation of mild AIH. The fundamental hypothesis guiding this proposal is that even a single AIH trial improves respiratory (and non-respiratory) motor function in ALS patients procedure. Participants will then be asked to breathe air with reduced oxygen for short periods of time, for a duration of 45 minutes. The activity of your muscles and your heart function will be monitored throughout the procedure.