NCT07012135

Deciphering Preserved Autonomic Function After Multiple Sclerosis

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 13 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Mayo Clinic · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study looks to characterize gradients of dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system in patients with clinically diagnosed multiple sclerosis. The autonomic nervous system plays key roles in regulation of blood pressure, skin blood flow, and bladder health- all issues that individuals with multiple sclerosis typically suffer. Focusing on blood pressure regulation, the most precise metric with broad clinical applicability, the investigators will perform laboratory-based tests to probe the body's ability to generate autonomic responses. For both individuals with multiple sclerosis and uninjured controls, laboratory-based experiments will utilize multiple parallel recordings to identify how the autonomic nervous system is able to inhibit and activate signals. The investigators anticipate that those with autonomic dysfunction with multiple sclerosis will exhibit abnormalities in these precise metrics. The investigators will look to see if any substantial connections exist between different degrees of preserved autonomic function and secondary autonomic complications from multiple sclerosis. In accomplishing this, the investigators hope to give scientists important insights to how the autonomic nervous system works after multiple sclerosis and give physicians better tools to manage these secondary autonomic complications.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Control Subjects
• Autonomic Dysreflexia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Tests of sympathetic inhibition	Bolus phenylephrine infusion using the Oxford technique will generate the need to inhibit sympathetic activity. Similarly, resting state Mayer waves will be assessed with regard to heart rate and blood pressure responses.
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Tests of sympathetic activation	Cold pressor test of the hand will be used to cause sympathetic activation. Valsalva's maneuver will assess the ability to buffer against blood pressure fall (phase II).
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Testing of autonomic dysreflexia	Cold pressor test of the foot and bladder pressor response will be tested.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-17
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2025-06-10
• Last updated: 2026-03-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States