Deciphering Preserved Autonomic Function After Spinal Cord Injury

Launched by MAYO CLINIC · Jul 28, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how the autonomic nervous system, which helps control important functions like blood pressure, skin blood flow, and bladder health, is affected after a spinal cord injury. Researchers want to understand how well this system works in people who have experienced such injuries compared to those without. They will conduct tests in a lab to see how the body responds to different situations and will also have participants wear a smartwatch that tracks things like heart rate and skin temperature. This information may reveal how well the autonomic nervous system is functioning at home and help doctors better manage complications that can arise after a spinal cord injury.

To participate in this study, individuals must be between 18 and 50 years old and have a traumatic spinal cord injury. The researchers are looking for a wide range of injury levels, from the neck to the lower back. However, people with certain health issues, such as heart disease or diabetes, as well as pregnant women and those with cognitive difficulties, cannot join. Participants can expect to engage in lab tests and wear a smartwatch while contributing valuable information that could improve care for others with similar injuries.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • All subjects
• • - age 18-50 years old.
• • Participants with spinal cord injury
• • Adult onset, traumatic spinal cord injury.
• • American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale, A-D, to encompass a spectrum of autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury.
• • Neurological level of injury, C1-T12, as defined by the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. Incorporating level of injury down to T12 to encompass a broad range of autonomic dysfunction.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, neurologic disorders (with exception of spinal cord injury), or diabetes.
• • Women who are pregnant or lactating.
• • Currently taking blood thinners.
• • Pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or intrathecal pump incompatible with MRI scanning.
• • Cognitive issues preventing informed consent for participation.
• • Body mass index \>30 kg/m2 for controls, in an effort to limit effects of early cardiovascular disease and diabetes in control population. Body mass index has not proven to be a good estimate of these factors following spinal cord injury.