The goal of the proposed grant is to objectively test the effectiveness of intrathecal baclofen for spasticity. Patients with spasticity which significantly interferes with motor function or causes painful spasms will be screened with injections of intrathecal baclofen, and if they respond, a programmable drug pump will be implanted to give the medicine chronically. The dose levels needed to control painful spasms, clonus, and rigidity will be determined. Voluntary control, if present, will be tested in the Motor Control Laboratory. Once the optimal dosage has been selected, the patient will receive the drug continuously. Quantitative studies of motor function, as well as activities of daily living, will be assessed at regular intervals. The prospective study will provide information about the long-term efficacy, as well as the risks of the procedure. A secondary goal will be to relate decreases in rigidity, hyperactive reflexes and clonus to voluntary control. The basic question is: whether a reduction in the signs of spasticity necessarily means that voluntary control will improve? If voluntary control does improve, what signs are most predictive, and can these measurements be used to select patients who will respond best to treatment?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS015630-09
Application #
3396378
Study Section
Neurology A Study Section (NEUA)
Project Start
1979-07-01
Project End
1989-06-30
Budget Start
1988-07-01
Budget End
1989-06-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rush University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Latash, M L; Penn, R D (1996) Changes in voluntary motor control induced by intrathecal baclofen in patients with spasticity of different etiology. Physiother Res Int 1:229-46
Kravitz, H M; Corcos, D M; Hansen, G et al. (1992) Intrathecal baclofen. Effects on nocturnal leg muscle spasticity. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 71:48-52
Latash, M L; Gottlieb, G L (1990) Compliant characteristics of single joints: preservation of equifinality with phasic reactions. Biol Cybern 62:331-6
Nanninga, J B; Frost, F; Penn, R (1989) Effect of intrathecal baclofen on bladder and sphincter function. J Urol 142:101-5
Parke, B; Penn, R D; Savoy, S M et al. (1989) Functional outcome after delivery of intrathecal baclofen. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 70:30-2
Latash, M L; Penn, R D; Corcos, D M et al. (1989) Short-term effects of intrathecal baclofen in spasticity. Exp Neurol 103:165-72
Latash, M L (1988) Spectral analysis of the electromyogram (EMG) in spinal cord trauma patients: I: Different types of the EMG and corresponding spectra. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 28:319-27
Latash, M L (1988) Spectral analysis of the electromyogram (EMG) in spinal cord trauma patients: II. Motor unit and interference EMG power spectra. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 28:329-34
Myklebust, B M; Gottlieb, G L; Agarwal, G C (1986) Stretch reflexes of the normal infant. Dev Med Child Neurol 28:440-9
Corcos, D M; Gottlieb, G L; Penn, R D et al. (1986) Movement deficits caused by hyperexcitable stretch reflexes in spastic humans. Brain 109 ( Pt 5):1043-58

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications