Spinocerebellar ataxias 27B (SCA27B) is caused by an expansion of ≥ 250 GAA triplets in the FGF14 gene and accounts for 15% of cerebellar ataxias (around 500 patients in France). It is a late-onset form often presenting paroxysmal episodes of ataxia and/or diplopia. The disease progresses slowly, with an average increase of 0.10 points/year on the Friedreich's Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) - Functional Staging and by 0.23 points/year on the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). To date, no treatment has been proven to be effective in these patients. Three open-label studies using 4-aminopyridine, have shown improvements in visual symptoms and gait in a total of 36 out of 44 patients, although these improvements were evaluated through diverse methodologies. In a subgroup of patients (n=7), administration of 4-aminopyridine resulted in a reduction in FARS - Functional Staging, ranging from 0.5 to 2 points. Notably, this beneficial effect rapidly disappearing in all patients stopping the drug. 4-aminopyridine, a potassium channel blocker, may involve restoration of cerebellar Purkinje cell rhythmic firing property, impaired with the loss of FGF14 function. Although these results appear very promising, the positive effect of 4-aminopyridine is reported only in restricted sample sizes and open-label experiences. Therefore, a robust clinical trial is necessary to provide the level of evidence required for a definitive conclusion on the benefit-risk of fampridine and before introducing the treatment into the regular patient clinical management. Hence, to confirm the beneficial effect of 4-aminopyridine treatment, this study will compare fampridine 10 mg bid (sustained-release form) to placebo during a 3-month treatment in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study, on functional handicap in SCA27B cerebellar ataxia patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
70
Patients randomized in the experimental arm will take 1 tablet twice a day, 12 hours apart, on an empty stomach, for 12 weeks.
Patients randomized in the control arm will take 1 tablet twice a day, 12 hours apart, on an empty stomach, for 12 weeks.
Neurology Department, CHU d'Angers
Angers, France
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGGenetics Department, CHU de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France
RECRUITINGNeurology and Gentics Department, CHU de Dijon
Dijon, France
RECRUITINGNeurology Department, Hôpital Pierre Wertheimer Hospital
Lyon, France
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGNeurology Department, Gui De Chauliac Hospital
Montpellier, France
RECRUITINGGenetics Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital
Paris, France
RECRUITINGGenetics Department, CHU de Rouen
Rouen, France
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGNeurology Department, CHRU de Strasbourg
Strasbourg, France
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGNeurology Department, CHU de Toulouse
Toulouse, France
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGProportion of patients showing an improvement of at least 0.5 point on the Friedreich's Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) -Functional Staging at week 12
Time frame: At week 12
Improvement of at least 0.5 point on the Friedreich's Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) -Functional Staging at week 2
Time frame: At week 2
Variation in cerebellar syndrome assessed by the Scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Variation in cerebellar syndrome assessed by the modified Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (mFARS) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Variation in cerebellar syndrome assessed by the Composite Cerebellar Functional Severity Score (CCFS score) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Variation in extracerebellar signs assessed by the Inventory of Non-Ataxia Signs (INAS) at week 12
Time frame: At week 12
Variation on Timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Variation in oculomotor signs assessed by the Scale for Ocular motor Disorders in Ataxia (SODA) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Variation in oculomotor signs assessed by oculomotor recording (OMR) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Variation in daily frequency of diplopia assessed on a Numerical Diplopia Rating Scale (NDRS) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Variation in daily living activities evaluated by the FARS -Activities of Daily Living scale (FARS-ADL) at week 12
Time frame: At week 12
Quality of life evaluated by the Patient Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia (PROM-ATAXIA) questionnaire at week 12
Time frame: At week 12
Quality of life evaluated by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire at week 12
Time frame: At week 12
Patient's impression evaluated by the Patient Global Impression of change (PGI-C) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Clinician's impression evaluated by the Clinician Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) at week 2 and week 12
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Tolerance to the investigational drug
Tolerance will be evaluated through clinical examination, blood analysis, and electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at Week 2 and Week 12. In addition, adverse events will be systematically recorded throughout the study period.
Time frame: At week 2 and week 12
Clinical assessments at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in cerebellar syndrome assessed by the FARS-Functional Staging at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in cerebellar syndrome assessed by the SARA scale at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in cerebellar syndrome assessed by the mFARS scale at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in cerebellar syndrome assessed by the CCFS score at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in extracerebellar signs assessed by the Inventory of Non-Ataxia Signs (INAS) at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation on Timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in oculomotor signs assessed by the Scale for Ocular motor Disorders in Ataxia (SODA) at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in oculomotor signs assessed by oculomotor recording (OMR) at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in daily frequency of diplopia assessed on a Numerical Diplopia Rating Scale (NDRS) at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Variation in daily living activities evaluated by the FARS -Activities of Daily Living scale at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Quality of life evaluated by the PROM-ATAXIA questionnaire at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Quality of life evaluated by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Patient's impression evaluated by the Patient Global Impression of change (PGI-C) at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
Clinician's impression evaluated by the Clinician Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) at week 16, i.e. 4 weeks after treatment interruption
Time frame: At week 16
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