An interventional study of Mechanical In-Exsufflator treatment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, sponsored by University Hospital, Toulouse. Recruiting at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-12.
Sponsored by University Hospital, Toulouse · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The study aims to evaluate the effect of mechanical insufflator-exsufflator on the respiratory functions of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients evaluated via peak expiratory flow on cough (PEFC) measurements. The evolution of their PEFC is monitored to see if the curative management can have a positive impact on the latter.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative pathology without curative treatment at present, the outcome is fatal after 3 to 5 years of evolution on average. The disease results in progressive paralysis of the muscles involved in voluntary motricity (progressive and intricate impairment of locomotor, phonation and swallowing capacities as well as ventilatory function). In France, the management of ALS is based on a diversified multidisciplinary follow-up (physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology) in the ALS Reference Center in conjunction with the city care networks. It is centered on the evaluation, and the early compensation of the various symptoms, especially the respiratory problems.
Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effect of mechanical insufflator-exsufflator on the respiratory functions of these patients, evaluated via cough peak expiratory flow measurements (CPEF).
The study is conducted in collaboration with the physiotherapists of each patient enrolled, to evaluate the respiratory function by peak expiratory flow on cough (PEFC) after 4 weeks of treatment with Mechanical In-Exsufflator (MIE) (3 weekly sessions for two weeks, then one daily session for 2 weeks) in ALS patients presenting with a poorly effective cough (PEFC between 160 and 255 L/min) and having an indication of punctual MIE.
978 studies on the registry are indexed under Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; 277 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 36 is close to the median of 38 across 662 interventional studies indexed under Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Browse Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis studies →University Hospital, Toulouse is the lead sponsor of 807 studies on the registry; 209 are open to participants now.
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Exclusion during the study :
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Device: Mechanical In-Exsufflator treatment
The Mechanical In-Exsufflator (MIE) is a device that alternately inhales and exhales air and amplifies the respiratory cycles in flow and pressure. 15 breathing cycles (about 3 minutes) are recommended each day. Patients will practice the MIE daily independently and/or carried out by his physiotherapist (PT) during PT sessions. The MIE is prescribed by the neurologist or pulmonologist and is covered by social security in France. It is gifted by an external service provider. The Peak-Flow Cough is considered as the standardized score retaining the best of 3 consecutive measurements by Peak-Flow, a small portable device for personal use, which measures the maximum expiratory flow reached by the patient at the moment when the breath is most powerful. The patient is his own control. At baseline, the patient will be treated as usual. He will be asked to read the Peak-Flow Cough measures. The PT will also perform the Peak flow measurement at each patient visit.
cough peak expiratory flow evolution
evolution of respiratory function by peak expiratory flow on cough (PEFC) after 4 weeks of treatment with Mechanical In-Exsufflator (3 weekly sessions for two weeks then one daily session for 2 weeks) in ALS patients presenting with a poorly effective cough (Cough Peak Expiratory Flow between 160 and 255) and having an indication of punctual MIE. Ratio between the PEFC 4 weeks post treatment initiation and PEFC at baseline can show decrease in respiratory function if \<1 ; increase in respiratory functions if \>1 and a conservation of respiratory function if = 1. A PEFC remaining within 10% of its initial value (rounded to the nearest ten) is considered unmodified
Time frame: 4 weeks post treatment initiation
Started Aug 2023 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 40 months after the start.
Of 134 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, half reached primary completion within 40 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 24 and three quarters within 60. This study's planned 40 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 154 studies reached it within 35 months; a quarter within 23 and three quarters within 60.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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